Billy Bob Thorton Slams Rumors About Leaving Landman

If you’ve been doom-scrolling through TikTok lately, you might have stumbled upon a panic-inducing rumor that Billy Bob Thorton is packing up his cowboy hat and walking away from the hit series Landman. The internet, being the chaos engine that it is, fueled reports that the 70-year-old actor was fed up with creator Taylor Sheridan’s on-set rules and was bailing on the show.

Now, everyone can take a deep breath and put down the pitchforks. The man himself has spoken, and he’s not going anywhere.

In a move that feels very much like something his character Tommy Norris would do, Thornton didn’t just deny the rumors—he completely torched them. Speaking to news outlets recently, the Academy Award winner clarified that the reports of his departure are nothing more than “AI-generated crap.”

The Truth About Billy Bob Thorton and Those Viral Hoaxes

It’s honestly getting weird out there. The rumor mill didn’t just stop at him quitting; it also churned out a bizarre, completely fabricated story that Thorton and his co-star Demi Moore were suddenly a romantic item.

“There’s an AI report that Demi and I are a couple now, and there’s one that I’m leaving the show,” Thorton said, sounding equal parts amused and annoyed. “They have nothing to do with reality.”

The source of the drama appears to be a viral video circulating on social media where a digitally manipulated voice—mimicking Thorton—claims he’s leaving due to “three foolish things” Taylor Sheridan does during filming. It’s a classic example of how deepfake tech is making it harder for fans to separate fact from fiction. Thornton called the videos “goofy stuff” and confirmed that when cameras start rolling on Season 3 this coming May, he will absolutely be on set.

“I’ll be here as long as it plays out,” he assured fans. “If it’s five years, great. If it’s six, I’m there.”

Breaking Down the Season 2 Finale

The irony of the “he’s quitting” rumor is that Landman just set Tommy Norris up for his most interesting arc yet. If you haven’t finished Season 2, look away now, because we’re getting into spoiler territory.

The season wrapped up with a massive power shift. Tommy didn’t just have a bad day at the office; he got fired as president of M-Tex by Cami Miller (played by Moore). But in true Taylor Sheridan fashion, Tommy didn’t go home to lick his wounds. Instead, the finale showed him pivoting hard.

By the time the credits rolled, we saw a man on a mission—taking private jet meetings, making power plays, and launching his own family-led empire, CTT Oil Exploration and Cattle. The “CTT” stands for Cooper, Tommy, and T.L., bringing his son (Jacob Lofland) and father (Sam Elliott) into the fold. It’s a far cry from the dread-filled, tortured Tommy we saw at the end of Season 1.

Thorton noted the shift in his character’s psyche, specifically referencing a recurring motif involving a coyote. In the first season, the animal represented his fear. By the Season 2 finale, Tommy tells the coyote, “Today is mine.”

“The coyote is like a ghost haunting me,” Thorton explained about his character’s internal battle. “This season it was like, ‘Listen, if we’re going to be pals, you have to give me the day off every now and then.'”

About That ‘Lopped Off’ Scene

Of course, we can’t talk about this season without mentioning that scene in Episode 7. You know the one. Tommy Norris, waking up in a hotel room in his birthday suit, terrifying a housekeeper.

It was a moment of levity in a pretty heavy show, but it also got people talking because, well, it’s Billy Bob Thorton. He admitted there was some “trepidation” about filming a full-frontal moment at 70, but he and on-screen wife Ali Larter decided to just embrace the absurdity of it.

“We said, ‘Look, we’re actors,'” Thorton said. He did joke, however, that the editors might have done him a favor in post-production. “I understand… that some of it was lopped off in the editing,” he cracked, quickly clarifying he meant the scene was shortened, not… well, you get it.

What’s Next for Billy Bob Thorton?

With the rumors squashed and a third season officially greenlit, the stage is set for a massive showdown. We’re likely looking at a “Tommy vs. Cami” war in the oil fields now that he’s struck out on his own. Thorton admits that even he doesn’t know exactly where the script is going because Sheridan keeps things locked down tight, but he suspects a clash is inevitable.

“That would seem to be the natural progression of things,” he said.

So, ignore the TikTok bots and the AI fakes. Billy Bob Thorton is staying in the oil business, and if the Season 2 finale is any indication, he’s just getting started.