Jacob Lofland Bonded With ‘Landman’ Co-Star Billy Bob Thornton for ‘Deer Meat and Squirrel Hunting’: ‘We’re Both From Arkansas’

Jacob Lofland is becoming a real actor. He got his start in Hollywood as a teenager, starring in such high-profile projects as Jeff Nichols. Mud and the Maze Runner franchise. He had a small but spectacular role in Joker: Folie à Deuxbut Lofland’s defining role in 2024 lies in Taylor Sheridan’s plan. Landman. Lofland plays Cooper Norris, a college dropout determined to run an oil company. As the son of Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris, Cooper knows he has to start from the oil field with a team and work his way up.

“With a project like this, you can’t leave anything on the table,” Lofland said. During his audition, Lofland was immediately drawn to the world of Landman by a combination of things: its creator Taylor Sheridan; the compelling storyline; and the fact that Thornton was attached to the star. “I felt like I could know this character better than anyone,” Lofland said. “I want people to see Cooper evolve into the man he wants to become over the course of this story.”

Lofland immediately connected with Thornton. “It’s one of the easiest relationships I’ve ever had,” Lofland said of her friendship with her on-screen father. “We’re both from Arkansas, so we had something to do. Ten minutes into the meeting we were talking about eating deer meat, hunting squirrels and all sorts of things. Their off-screen closeness makes the dynamic between their characters even more palpable. “The struggles (Cooper) faces are struggles that can happen to any young man, regardless of the situation.”

Another relationship Lofland enjoyed was with co-star Paulina Chavez, who plays Ariana, a young mother recently widowed following an accident in the oil business. Having known her husband before his death, Cooper feels responsible towards her. “The emotion that Paulina must have felt this season is insane,” Lofland said. “I can’t say enough nice things about him. It’s so easy when we’re together on screen.

Lofland sat down with DECIDER over Zoom to discuss the season so far, being on “tough guy camp” and Sheridan’s accessibility to his cast.

DECIDE: You are perfectly suited to play Cooper. Can you tell me what the audition process was like?

JACOB LOFLAND: It took me a month or two to get the role, but it was a pretty traditional audition process. It started in January 2023. I was sent the sides, and I knew it was a Taylor Sheridan show and that Billy Bob was attached to it. So straight away I put 120% (laughs). With a project like this, you can’t leave anything on the table. I felt like I could know this character better than anyone, and I wasn’t going to give up until I got the part. And I got it, which was great, but then the strike happened. So there was a big gap between booking the part and the actual production.

I’m interested in Cooper’s story. We know he studied geology in school and dreams of running an oil company. What conversations did you have with Taylor Sheridan about your character?

You know, not much (laughs). One thing I like about this character is that he has no idea how this oil business works, just like the audience has no idea. Every time we show up on a platform or in the patch, we all learn together. I love playing Cooper’s reality. The struggles he faces are struggles that can happen to any young man, no matter the situation. This is why I love Taylor Sheridan’s writing. He has a way of creating these characters in a very human way, which makes them easy to relate to. That’s what attracted me to Cooper.

I’m told Taylor is just a phone call away from most of his cast.

I don’t know if I’ve ever worked with a creator, director, producer as busy as Taylor. What’s mind-blowing to me is that this man has 20 phones all ringing and somehow he always answers your call. He’s definitely just a text or call away, and it’s always an easy conversation. He is always willing to sit down and talk about whatever you want to discuss. This is great confidence for an actor.

What kind of research did you do to play Cooper? Were you able to visit any oil rigs before filming?

A week or two before we started filming, we did a five-day hooligan camp with the real rigs and equipment we were going to use on the show. Every day we worked from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. training, practicing, and determining the proper way to use the equipment. We were also talking about some of the big things that were going to happen on the show. This was a big help to us as we needed to feel comfortable in and around this heavy equipment. When equipment operates, it’s loud, it’s dangerous, and it’s fast. Everything really has to be together.

We haven’t had many scenes between Cooper and Tommy, but this car scene from Episode 2 stands out. What’s it like working with Billy Bob Thornton?

Yeah, it was one of the easiest relationships I think I’ve ever had. We’re both from Arkansas, so we had something to do. Within 10 minutes of meeting, we were talking about eating deer meat, squirrel hunting, and all sorts of things. I was just texting Billy last night. We are close friends. The entire cast, not just Billy and I, came together like nothing I’ve ever seen. We really built a family. The dynamic was really natural. Is it Taylor’s casting? Or maybe the universe works? I don’t know, but regardless, it’s one of the most fun and open sets I’ve ever been a part of.

This closeness absolutely translates on screen. Another relationship I’m invested in is the one between Cooper and Ariana. What do you think is attractive to Ariana? Is it guilt that he is alive and her husband is dead? Is she beautiful? Or is it something else entirely?

All that (laughs). The other thing is that he understands that she’s in this position now where there’s no one to help her. Cooper wants to do something for her because he’s a good person. She’s beautiful, but he doesn’t try to cross the line.

You don’t realize how sheltered Cooper is until his monologue with Ariana on his back porch. He reveals that she was the first person he saw breastfeeding and that her husband was the first person he knew to die. Can you talk about this scene? How important is this in revealing Cooper’s character?

It’s really important. He tries to be like those other oil men, but Cooper is actually a kid. He knows he has a lot to learn. This is the first time we see him admit, “I’m not that.” I try to be, but I have no idea what I’m doing. Ariana is more mature than she will be anytime soon. It’s a bit intimidating (laughs). I want people to see Cooper evolve into the man he wants to become over the course of this story. At least, that’s the goal for me. Maybe Taylor thinks differently (laughs).

You and Paulina Chavez do beautiful work together. How did you create the dynamic between your characters?

Paulina is absolutely phenomenal. She’s an incredible actress. I can’t say enough good things about Paulina. It’s so easy when we’re together on screen. We never discuss our scenes. We show up, each of us contributes something and we are free enough to change things. Hats off to her. The emotion she had to convey this season is crazy, and she killed it.

Cooper is shy around women, which is wild considering what his mother and sister are like. Why do you think this is the case?

I’m not sure. This is something I hadn’t really thought about before. Given who his mother and sister are, perhaps he’s learned to keep his head down. He’s never sure if they’re going to come after him or what. I think we’re going to learn a lot more about Cooper’s family dynamic as we go along. There are many things to build on. Sometimes in this first season, it feels like Cooper is a little isolated from the rest of the family. I hope we address this and find out where his separation came from.

I’m obsessed with the dinner scene in episode 5. What was it like filming that sequence?

It was one of the funniest days on set. This scene is so crazy and intense. We were really worried that their interactions wouldn’t be awkward because we all get along so well. At the end of that day, we could have shot it again for another six and a half hours. James Jordan made us laugh. So many things happened that day that ruined the shots. There has been a bug in the food on several occasions. People would screw up their lines. I would break down (laughs). Great scene though. Collectively, this is probably one of our favorites to photograph.

What can you tell us about Cooper’s progress in the second half of the season?

There is a change of path, but we are still on the way. Things will speed up a little, but it’s still full of enthusiasm. There are plenty of cliffhangers and lots to come. I don’t think anyone will be disappointed by the end of this season.