Sam Elliott & Billy Bob Thornton Reunite For Third Western Since 'Tombstone' Actorsvaultpro

Decades after Tombstone hit theaters and became one of the most beloved films of all time, Sam Elliott’s latest show offers a perfect reunion. With 32 years since Tombstone, it’s fair to say that the 1993 Western feels like a relic of a genre rarely seen in contemporary Hollywood. While gunslinging tales have pivoted to neo-Westerns like Hell or High Water or Yellowstone, Tombstone is one of those beautiful gems that offers both nostalgia and timeless storytelling.

Sam Elliott was one of the numerous great actors in Tombstone’s ensemble cast, and his supporting performance has become one of the most iconic roles in the Western genre. Another actor who appeared in a minor role was Billy Bob Thornton, who has recently found one of his most astounding successes with the Paramount+ series Landman. Sam Elliott joined the show for its second season, making his first appearance in the Season 2 premiere, reuniting with his Tombstone co-star after decades.

‘Landman’ Is the Third Reunion For Sam Elliott and Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in Season Two of Landman on Paramount+.

Paramount+

While Landman is evidently a neo-Western, creating tonal differences with Tombstone, there’s so much to offer here for fans of the 1993 classic. For those who love the quotability of characters like Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, it’s hard to think of a Western show with more memorable dialogue than Landman. Now that Sam Elliott has joined the series, it’ll be exciting to see what TV mega-producer Taylor Sheridan gives him to work with, especially given that it’s not their first collaboration.

Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott have shared the screen in three projects: Tombstone, 1883, and now Landman, and oddly enough, this is the first time they’ll have a significant amount of acting time together. In the previous titles, Billy Bob Thornton was only on set for a brief period, adding an unforgettable component to those projects in a short time, but not getting to perform much with Elliott.

Everyone will remember Sam Elliott from Tombstone, but he’s also fantastic in 1883, playing a hard-nosed veteran cowboy with an emotional core that allows him to flex his acting chops. Billy Bob Thornton starred in Tombstone as Johnny Tyler, the outlaw who gets slapped around by Kurt Russell’s Wyatt Earp, then as Marshal Jim Courtright in 1883, where he joins the protagonists for a gripping saloon shootout in one episode. In both cases, Thornton is there for some action, but doesn’t get to explore a deep character like he does in Landman.

Billy Bob Thornton shares in the audience’s excitement for this screen partnership with Sam Elliott, telling EW, “To be able to be around him longer on a more regular basis on the set, it’s just been a joy for me because I love that man.” He acknowledged that, despite his longtime friendship with his co-star, the two hadn’t properly worked together until now. From Tombstone to 1883 to Landman, the combination of Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott will always be outstanding for a Western, making their extended time together in the latest project a must-watch.