Like a tornado of energy, Ali Larter and Michelle Randolph know how to make an entrance on Landman. After making her debut over FaceTime in the first season of the Billy Bob Thornton-starring Taylor Sheridan co-created series, Larter’s Angela — the formerly estranged and now-reconciled wife to Thornton’s oil fixer, Tommy Norris — runs the house in season two. And no matter how many oil men fill up their hallways, her second-in-command is always her daughter Ainsley, played by Randolph.
Only three episodes have released so far in season two, and already the fiery mother-daughter-duo is doing more of what viewers love, and what the rest of the ensemble loves to roll their eyes at. But Randolph says there’s one new character who sees them for who they are, and that’s Sam Elliott, the Sheridan alum of Yellowstone prequel 1883 who joined the cast this season as T.L., father to Tommy.
“T.L. sees them for who they really are, which is joy. It’s refreshing to see us through his eyes,” Randolph tells The Hollywood Reporter. In the below conversation with Larter, the close co-stars dive into playing Angela and Ainsley, dish about their lightning-in-a-bottle success with the hit Paramount+ series, share their hopes for a long future and tease more heartbreaking and heartwarming episodes ahead.
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Did you feel pressure around season two since season one was a mega-success? Were you able to block out that noise and stick to the work?
MICHELLE RANDOLPH I actually felt calmer going into season two. I was trying to figure out the show in season one — the tone, how my character fit in, my accent. There were so many things I was worried about. Then seeing how the show was received and how it all pieced together, I was really excited to go back and settle into the character. I still had my moments, but it was overall a better season for me.
ALI LARTER I agree. The first season was incredibly challenging in so many ways, and the second season was like an old pair of Wranglers. We built our house. We all spent a tremendous amount of time together the first year figuring out the chemistry between everyone — how the family fit together, the different tones of the show, which there are so many. Once we understood who we were coming into the second season, we were just excited to be back with the cast and our crew. We’re all really close. You can feel the work and the time everyone commits to the show when you watch it.
Billy Bob Thornton recently said he signed a four- or five-year contract with Landman. Are you hoping for that many seasons, or more?
RANDOLPH Definitely. Even by the end of season two, there’s so much story still left to tell; so much for these characters. I could see the show going for a long time. We wouldn’t run out of things.
LARTER It’s masterful how Taylor [Sheridan] writes. My character came in on FaceTime, so the whole audience thought I was coming in as a guest role and didn’t realize that the family was the heartbeat of the show. That’s what he knew and what we knew, since we had the first 10 episodes [ahead of time for season one]. Then we really do dig into that now. This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming season. We dig into some of the complexities and real-life moments that happened to this family, and how we react to them. So we’re only on season two, but I agree. There’s so far for these stories to go.
The first season when Billy and I started working together, there was a lot of vitriol on the page of us barking at each other. We realized this isn’t a movie; this is a show. If this is something we want to have legs, there has to be a real depth to our relationship that doesn’t have an ending. We are always keeping their relationship incredibly alive.
RANDOLPH I always forget the first season took place over 10 days. It’s such a short amount of time. You can’t have a character arc within 10 days. I mean, you can, but subtly. So there’s so much more story.
Ali, we did see you back on FaceTime in episode two this season. Was that a wink to the early response to your character?
LARTER No. (Laughs.) Part of that is that when the audience knows they like something [you lean in], like the family dinners. That’s part of how Taylor writes; you’re going to repeat certain things because it feels good. Within the world of Tommy and Angela, there’s always this banter and heightened reality. But there are moments in every scene that are incredibly truthful that show the level of depth they have in their relationship. In that scene, there’s one you can find. There are different moments within all of these scenes where, as Tommy and Angela, we really drop in. You see the shenanigans around them, and then there’s a purity.
Your showrunner Christian Wallace said both of you snapped back into your characters once you got to set for season two. Ali, you said Taylor encouraged you to keep your foot on the gas in season one, like a “tornado of energy.” How did you keep that pace?
LARTER Easily, because I know who she is now. We didn’t have the entire season going into season two. We only had a couple episodes. But because we know these characters and the chemistry and dynamics within the family, you could drop us anywhere and we can land on our feet. We did the work the first season. And we definitely get stretched this year. I mean, there’s an episode that’s farce; some of the comedy goes close to satire. Taylor writes whatever he wants, and then me and Billy just play ball; we can dig in. And working with an actor as extraordinary as Billy is always authentic; we can always find it. I’m just so excited he’s my partner in this.
RANDOLPH I really played with the comedy this year, because that’s what was written on the page. I felt a lot more confident because I knew how important it was to the show. The college interview, for example, read like a sitcom, so I tried to find the moments where I could ground it. Ainsley is so sincere, which is why she’s the best. She never tries to act like she knows more than she does. She knows exactly who she is and she knows her role in the family, and there’s something refreshing about that; she has so much room to grow. I have fun playing with her.
Ali, Tommy is elevated this season — both financially and with power, which created tension in the beginning between Tommy and Angela. Will this bring up old demons for them, and will they continue to work through it in their own way?
LARTER It’s interesting this season digging into the family. There’s a loss, and Angela makes Tommy step up into being a good man within their marriage. Whether he’s going to or not has yet to be seen. But there are all these real-life things we start grappling with. She’s not allowing her daughter to move to Fort Worth without her. She’s absolutely going, but also Angela doesn’t think before she jumps. So her daughter’s going, well then, “OK, we’re going. We’re getting the house. We’re decorating the house. What are we having to drink?” It’s very fast; everything she feels is very deep and true. So if that’s the direction it’s going, then Tommy’s going to hop on board.
What can you say about upcoming scenes between your characters and the new and elevated actors this season — Sam Elliot, Andy Garcia and Demi Moore?
RANDOLPH We have some great stuff with Sam. Ainsley doesn’t know a whole lot about her dad. He’s such a mystery to her, so having his dad now come into the story help her to start to understand him a little bit more. Working with Sam is a dream. I still can’t believe he joined our cast.
LARTER Sam is such an icon. Watching him in the house with us with these soulful eyes and the depth he brings with our characters in this world is really beautiful. I’m excited for everyone to get to see that. We had an amazing scene in episode three with Andy and Demi and Billy and Stefania [Spampinato, who plays the wife to Andy Garcia’s Gallino] where we really dig in. At the end of season one, Tommy said to Angela, “There are things I can’t tell you about this business.” Then this season, she’s creeping deeper into his life and it can cause a lot of conflict. But to get to work with those actors was such a joy, to see what they brought to the table. That was an incredible scene.
RANDOLPH I feel like we are viewed in the show through the lens of people always thinking that our characters are ridiculous. Like, “OK, here the girls come again.” Tommy, Cooper [Jacob Lofland], Dale [James Jordan], Nathan [Colm Feore] — are all [rolling their eyes]. But T.L, Sam’s character, sees them for who they really are, which is joy. It’s refreshing to see us through his eyes.
LARTER And getting to work with Andy Garcia, another icon; he’s incredibly charismatic on screen. So suave. He brings so much to Gallino and these complexities. All these actors and characters are so unique. It’s really exciting to be part of a show that has space for that much depth.
Ali Larter as Angela Norris here with Bill Bob Thornton as husband Tommy Norris (right) and Andy Garcia as cartel boss Gallino (left) in season two.
Emerson Miller/Paramount+
Taylor Sheridan was recently in the news about his eventual jump from Paramount to NBCUniversal with his new mega-deal to keep creating content. How did you react when you saw that, and what do you think about the future of the Sheridan-verse?
RANDOLPH I just hope we get to keep shooting Landman for as long as possible. But I don’t think that [deal is] directly going to affect our show.
LARTER You’d have to ask Taylor how he feels, but we love our show, and we love the cast and the crew and everyone down in Fort Worth.
Was Taylor as available on set for season two as season one?
RANDOLPH He’s always a phone call away. If you need him, he will be there. If you have a question, he’s there. He didn’t direct any of the episodes this year, but that’s because he started the season off last year and then handed it over. But I’m so grateful that any time I said, “I need to speak with you,” he is responsive. No matter how busy that man is, he cares deeply.
LARTER He cares deeply. This season, Stephen Kay directed all 10 episodes. To have that throughline for the actors is really great; it also holds the show. We are all right there together when you have one director. Taylor spent a tremendous amount of time the first season teeing us up. He got it where he wanted it, and now the train’s on its way, barreling ahead.
Would you say the ending to season two sets up a third season?
LARTER In a huge way. I think I know where the third season is going.
RANDOLPH I want to know!
LARTER We should write [our predictions] on a piece of paper!
Have you heard any rumblings? Are you feeling good about a third season?
RANDOLPH I just don’t see how it wouldn’t go another season.
LARTER I’ve been in this business long enough to know how lucky it is to have a show on this kind of cycle. It’s extraordinarily rare to be on a show you love to make that’s received by audiences in this way, and the fact that we’re starting again. We’re coming out the same time as last year. I just know that we’re part of something really special, and I’m really grateful for it.
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Landman season two releases new episodes Sundays on Paramount+.