Jacob Lofland and Billy Bob Thornton met on the set of “Landman” and bonded over their Arkansas origins while indulging in hunting deer and squirrels together.

Jacob Lofland is gaining recognition in the entertainment industry. He kicked off his Hollywood journey as a teenager, securing roles in well-received projects like Jeff Nichols’ “Mud” and the “Maze Runner” series. While he had a brief but memorable role in “Joker: Folie à Deux,” Lofland’s outstanding performance in 2024 comes from Taylor Sheridan’s movie “Landman.” In this film, he plays Cooper Norris, a determined young man who leaves college to pursue success in the oil industry. As the son of Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton, Cooper knows he must start from the bottom in the oil fields and work his way up.

“You can’t hold anything back with a project like this,” Lofland shared. When auditioning, Lofland was immediately captivated by “Landman” due to several factors: the involvement of creator Taylor Sheridan, the engaging script, and Thornton’s participation. “I felt a deep connection to this character,” Lofland expressed. “I aim for viewers to witness Cooper’s transformation into the man he aspires to be throughout this narrative.”

Lofland quickly bonded with Thornton. Lofland described their relationship as one of the smoothest he has ever experienced, both on and off the screen. “Being fellow Arkansans, we had an instant connection. In just 10 minutes, we were discussing things like eating deer meat and squirrel hunting,” Lofland shared. Their off-screen camaraderie enhances the on-screen chemistry between their characters. “Cooper’s struggles are universal challenges that any young man can relate to, regardless of the circumstances,” he remarked.

Another relationship Lofland fostered was with co-star Paulina Chavez, who plays Ariana, a young mother recently widowed by an accident at the oil patch. Having known her husband before he died, Cooper feels a responsibility towards her. “The emotion that Paulina had to carry this season is insane,” said Lofland. “I can’t say enough nice things about her. It’s so easy when we’re on screen together.”

Lofland spoke with DECIDER over Zoom to discuss the season so far, going to “roughneck camp,” and how accessible Sheridan is to his cast.

DECIDER: You are so 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 part, but it was a pretty traditional audition process. It started back in January 2023. I was sent the sides, and I knew it was a Taylor Sheridan show and that Billy Bob was attached. So immediately I put in 120% [laughs]. With a project like this, you cannot leave nothing on the table. I had this feeling that I could know this character better than anyone else, and I wasn’t gonna give up until I got the part. And I did get 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 backstory. We know he has 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 a whole lot [laughs]. One thing I love about the 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 rig or in the patch, we’re all learning together. I love playing the realness of Cooper. The struggles he’s dealing with are struggles that can that happen to every young man, no matter the situation. That’s why I love Taylor Sheridan’s writing. He has a way of creating these characters in such a human way, making them easy to relate to. That was what drew me to Cooper.

I’m told Taylor is only a phone call away from most of his actors.

I don’t know if I’ve ever worked with a creator, director, producer who is as busy as Taylor . What is mind blowing to me is that the man’s got 20 phones all ringing and somehow he always still picks up your call. He really is a text message or a call away, and it is always an easy conversation. He’s always willing to sit down and talk out whatever you want to discuss. That’s a huge reassurance for an actor.

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

A week or two before we started shooting, we did a five-day roughneck camp with the real rigs and the equipment we were going to be using in the show. Every day we would work from 8AM to 4PM to get training and practice and figure out the proper way to use the gear. We’d also talk through some of the big things that were going to happen on the show. It was a huge help because we had to get comfortable in and around this heavy equipment. When the equipment is running, it’s loud, it’s dangerous, and it’s fast. You really have to have everything together.

We haven’t had a lot of scenes between Cooper and Tommy, but that car scene in Episode 2 stands out. What is it like working with Billy Bob Thornton?

Yeah, that was one of the easiest relationships I think I’ve ever crafted. We’re both from Arkansas, so we had something to go on. Within 10 minutes of meeting each other, we were talking about eating deer meat and squirrel hunting and all kinds of things. I was just texting Billy last night. We are close friends. This entire cast, not just Billy and me, came together like nothing I’ve ever seen. We really did build a family. The dynamics were really natural. Is it Taylor’s casting? Or maybe the universe working? I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s one of the most fun and open sets I’ve ever been on.

That closeness absolutely translates to the screen. Another relationship I’ve become invested in is the one between Cooper and Ariana. What do you think draws him to Ariana? Is it guilt that he’s alive and her husband dead? Is it that she’s beautiful? Or is it something else entirely?

All of it [laughs]. The other thing is he understands that she’s in this position now where there’s no one to help. Cooper wants to do something for her because she’s a good person. She’s beautiful, but he’s not trying to overstep boundaries.

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

It’s really important. He’s trying to be like these other oil men , but Cooper’s actually a kid. He knows he has a lot to learn. This is the first time you get to see him admit: “I’m not this. I’m trying to be, but I have no idea what I’m doing.” Ariana is more mature than he will be anytime soon. That’s a little 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. Taylor might be thinking differently [laughs].

You and Paulina Chavez are doing beautiful work together. How did you two craft the dynamic between your characters?

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

Cooper is bashful around women, which is wild considering what his mother and sister are like. Why do you think that is?

I’m not sure. That’s something I haven’t really thought about before. Given who his mother and sister are, maybe he has learned to keep his head down. He is never sure if they’re going to snap at him or what. I think we are going to learn a lot more about Cooper’s family dynamic as we go along. There’s a lot to build on there. Sometimes in this first season, it seems like Cooper is a little isolated from the rest of the family. I’m hoping we get into that and figure out where his separation comes 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. That scene is so crazy and intense. We were really scared it their interactions were not going to be awkward because we all get along so well. By the end of that day, we could have shot it again for another six and a half hours. James Jordan was cracking us up. There were so many things that happened that day to mess up the takes. There was a bug in the food a couple of times. People would flub their lines. I would crack up [laughs]. Great scene, though. Collectively, probably one of our favorites to shoot.

What can you tease about Cooper’s journey through the second half of the season?

There’s a path change, but we’re still on the journey. Things are about speed up a little bit, but it’s still full of excitement. There’s plenty of cliffhangers and lots of things to come. I don’t believe anyone will be disappointed by the end of this season.