Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for first five episodes of Landman!

Jacob Lofland's Cooper finds his effort to be an oil rig crew worker becoming all the more difficult in the Maze Runner franchise, the Bill Paxton-led Texas Rising miniseries and Pierce Brosnan-led Western drama The Son. More recently, Lofland was seen in the generally well-received true-story-based sports drama 12 Mighty Orphans, the Blumhouse horror-thriller A House on the Bayou and Joker: Folie à Deux.

Lofland stars in Landman as Cooper Norris, the eldest child of Billy Bob Thornton's Tommy and Ali Larter's Angela, and brother to Michelle Randolph's Ainsley. Despite Tommy and Angela's desire for him to get a college education, Cooper becomes determined to be an oil rig worker, with his first day on the job seeing him as the sole survivor of a rig explosion. The season has since seen him grow close to Paulina Chávez's Ariana, the widow of one of the crew who died in the rig explosion, while her cousins-in-law become increasingly hostile and threaten him if he keeps spending time with her.

Alongside Lofland, Thornton, Larter, Randolph and Chávez, the ensemble Landman cast includes frequent Taylor Sheridan collaborator James Jordan, Nashville's Mark Collie, The Substance's Demi Moore, Top Gun: Maverick's Jon Hamm and The Umbrella Academy's Colm Feore. Simultaneously proving to be one of Sheridan's funniest shows to date, as much as a fresh and insightful look at the oil industry, it quickly established itself as a hit, dominating the streaming charts for the first half of its season.

With the season just past its halfway point, ScreenRant interviewed Jacob Lofland to discuss Landman, the intensity of filming the episode 1 oil rig explosion, why Cooper and Ariana find themselves so drawn to one another, why Cooper is so determined to be an oil rig worker, in spite of the fatal accident, what the dynamic is between Cooper, his mom and his sister, his episode 5 cliffhanger fate, and his thoughts on the Maze Runner reboot.

Cooper Has A Few Reasons Why The Episode 1 Explosion Isn't Deterring Him From Oil Rig Work

Filming That Sequence Was Also Surprisingly Practical

ScreenRant: It's good to see you again, Jacob, and to keep chatting about Landman. I continue to love this show, and episode 5, which we'll get to, ends on quite a big note. When we last spoke, it was before the premiere, so I didn't want to get into any spoilers, but that episode 1 rig explosion is just insane. I would love to hear about filming that sequence, especially since everybody I've talked to has talked about how practical the effects are on this show.

Jacob Lofland: Yeah, there's no CGI. Those flames are 100% real. Every bit of it is real on a Taylor set, you don't imitate much. If it doesn't happen, we might not get it. [Chuckles] We burnt a ridiculous amount of fuel that day to make that fire as big as it was, and it was the hottest thing I've ever been that close to. We thought we were safe back with the truck and all that, but it was like, within 30 seconds, it's like, "No, if you don't move in 30, your skin's melting", it was crazy hot.

It was a great day though. It actually worked out, because it was kind of cold outside, so when the fire was going, you could stand at a safe distance and it was quite toasty. [Chuckles] But that was a crazy day. One of the biggest effects things I think I've ever been a part of doing and watching. Again, it was like 12 hours of just burning fuel. It was a lot of fun getting pulled back on wires and pads.

That explosion could easily deter someone from this line of work, and yet Cooper really is just so driven to be in this field. Why do you think it is that he is, despite his parents' wishes, despite his sister's wishes, still so driven to be an oil worker?

Jacob Lofland: I think he knows the success that he can have if it all pans out the right way. He's just learning what the risks are, I think that's it. I think this is the first day, and it was a huge wake-up call. But at the same time, if you crash your car one day, and you get another one, you're probably not gonna be like, "Well, I can't drive it now, because what if I crash?" You've gotta try it again, right? You've gotta get back on the bike. Now, if it continues to happen, you might need to take a hint. But I think, more than anything, that's what it is. It's just him waking up, and he definitely doesn't want to go back and do it. But this is what I signed on for, and even though that went south, let's hope it goes better from now on.

That's kind of the mentality that he's got, and we'll see how long that holds up. But I think that's kind of where he's coming from. I don't think it's the time to go, "Nope. I'm out. Can't do it." I think, as a man, doing any job, yeah, you got a setback, but let's give it one more try. Let's make sure. At the same time, this is the only plan Cooper's got. He doesn't have a backup. He can't just up and go, "Ah, let's go sell those computer chips." I think he's dedicated to it for that, and he wants to prove to himself to his dad and everyone else that he can do this. He just isn't really sure exactly what he's going to have to do yet, but he's going to make it.

Lofland Finds A Very Emotional Reason Behind Cooper & Ariana's Connection

He Also Thinks There's A Very Sweet Reason Why Cooper Refuses To Cave Under Her In-Laws' Threats

So, from that explosion, we obviously then see Cooper start to grow close to Ariana. We talked before about working with Paulina, but I'd love to hear why you feel it is that Cooper and Ariana find themselves so drawn together, especially since this is a situation where he could easily be blamed for these people's deaths, even though we, as the audience, saw it and know it's not his fault.

Jacob Lofland: I think a lot of their connection is trauma bonding, more than anything. I don't think either one of them really can stand to just sit in their own thoughts at this moment. So, just to have something with someone, even if you're not talking, just to have someone sitting there is just kind of nice. I think we've all been in somewhat of a similar position before, no matter what you went through, there's always that down where it's just like, "I would love to just have someone, just setting. Nothing intimate, just company." I think that's where it starts. I think it's nice for both of them just not sitting in silence, and to know that they collectively are somewhat going through the same thing.

It really is such a powerful storyline from what I've seen so far. Was there a specific moment where you and Paulina felt like you had found that rhythm and found that rapport with one another?

Jacob Lofland: You know, it was almost like that every day. It kind of just fell into place. There's always going to be some scenes, of course, that you feel hit better than others in the moment when you're doing them. We definitely had those, but every time Paulina and I worked together, it was easy and it just effortless. It works well, there's good chemistry, and we enjoy and we're comfortable working together. So it just works, it just happens. What you see is really organic, and we didn't really over try to do that. I think that's what makes it that believable is it's just natural.

You talk about taking the hint with his work, and Ariana's in-laws continue to rough him up to the point of the Landman episode 5 cliffhanger. Before we get into that properly, why do you think it is that he refuses to listen to their threats and continues to see Ariana?

Jacob Lofland: I think he's just too nice. I mean, at the end of the day, he's drawn to her, but at the time, I think he's really just trying to help her and be nice and get away with it, and he just finds himself in this bad position, you know? He's really not trying to get anything out of this. He's just trying to help, and d--n it, they won't leave him alone. At the end of the day, that, I feel like, is where Cooper's coming from, and it's just a set of coincidences thrown together that this is where we wind up.

So with that episode 5 ending, obviously, we don't want to spoil what comes in the next couple of episodes, but what can you tell me about how the way he's left will impact the rest of the season, especially his family?

Jacob Lofland: There'll definitely be a path change for the direction — maybe not the direction he's going. He's still going to have the same go, but there's going to be some shortcuts, or long roads to get there now. It's not going to be the straight path that it was before, it kind of changes the dynamic of what he's wanting to do. So, there'll be some hurdles there for him. As far as the family, it would be just like if it happened to your family. It's definitely going to take a hit. But at the end of the day, I think everything's going to work out. We're going to come back around, and it'll all even the scales, eventually.

Lofland Doesn't Know What The Norris Family Dynamic Really Is

"...you've got about as much as I do going into it."

So, since we talk about the family, obviously we see what Tommy and Cooper's dynamics are, but I feel like we haven't really seen anything for Cooper, Angela and Ainsley, aside from the dinner scene together. What can you tell me about what their relationship is?

Jacob Lofland: Not a lot, honestly, you've got about as much as I do going into it. [Chuckles] That's kind of a running joke that Michelle and I have is we don't know why we dislike each other, and that has not been written. We never got that backstory, so what we're expecting is that's going to come out as we go, and we'll find out what actually went on with this family, to put us in the position where we started, and that's got to be why they don't like each other. So, we're not sure, we're still going to have to live that and figure it out, and the audience will learn with us, just like we are.

Lofland Has Hopes For Season 2 (Even If He Hasn't Heard Any Updates)

He Also Reflects On How The Show's Positive Reception Has Been "A Whirlwind"

That's a unique way to approach a character. I feel like that also leaves the door open for further seasons to expound on that. We're halfway through this season. Have you heard any hopeful updates yet from the powers that be about Landman season 2?

Jacob Lofland: Completely unofficial, I can't say yay or nay, and I have no idea. All I can say is I hope, more than anything, that we go back to working as quick as we can on it, because it's a blast, and I love making it, and I think this story needs to be told, and I think people are going to love it. So that's, at the end of the day, hope's all we got.

So, if there is a season 2, which, again, hopefully there is, what is something you would love to see from Cooper that you didn't get this season, but that also doesn't give anything away about what comes the rest of this season?

Jacob Lofland: That's a really good question, and I don't have a very good answer for it, honestly. I'm kind of just sitting here going, "I can't wait to see what Taylor's got in store." As an actor, I've never been able to go, "Oh, this is what I would like to do." It's always, "This is what we got to do." So I've just been so curious, waiting on Taylor, hopefully we get to season 2, and start reading and see what's in store for Cooper. I mean, I'm not a writer, even if I could imagine it up, it probably wouldn't be as good as what Taylor's gonna have planned.

You never know when you get embedded into a character.

Jacob Lofland: That's true. Some growth. I would hope to see Cooper become the young man that he's aspiring to be, and kind of step out of boyhood, which I think Ariana and him, sorry to get back into it, that was a big dynamic between the two. You get to see him as a kid, basically, who doesn't know what he's doing, different than when you're seeing him in the patch, which he still doesn't know what he's doing, but you don't get that vulnerable side of a person. It's just the work, and this is what we have to do. So I like that dynamic, and I hope to see that part of Cooper grow. That would be fun.

So, how has it felt for you seeing the positive reactions to Landman? Because, for me, personally, I think this is Taylor's funniest show of his repertoire. But how does it feel for you, seeing the range of reactions to it?

Jacob Lofland: Yeah, it's a whirlwind. And what's crazy is I knew going in, Taylor Sheridan, and Billy Bob, with the scripts, you knew it was stacked, and the whole time, no matter the doubts, we knew it was going to be a success, because it had no way not to be. Now that it's actually happening, it's a really cool experience. To witness this blow up the way it is, and hear everyone's positive reactions, and to know that the things we were trying to get across on screen have done so, and to see audiences react is one of the most fulfilling things. It's just awesome that it came together, and it worked the way you're supposed to. That's what's magic about this business. That's what you work for in this, is to make a film and, at the end of the day, it translated. You got exactly what you wanted to get across.

Lofland Went Through A Five-Day Training Camp To Prepare For Working On An Oil Rig

"...no one ever got hurt or anything."

Cooper's growth is obviously a big thing, but also his work on The Patch is something that requires a lot of actual work from you. What's been the most interesting thing you've picked up from Christopher, as well as Taylor, when working on those sequences?

Jacob Lofland: Well, picking it up, I think they taught me more in the five-day roughneck camp that we did that they set up. When it comes down to that stuff, it's more just knowing what you're doing, and what you're grabbing, because it's a lot of danger mixed in. At any point, anything you're touching weighs 1000s of pounds to tons, multiple tons at a time, and all this is driven off hydraulics and motors. So, there's so many moving parts that if you put your hand in the wrong place, you might not have it in a second.

That was probably the most helpful was just them putting us on a rig and giving us people who run it all day and going, "Don't do that. Don't do that. Watch this. This is going to move." Once you get it all collectively going, it's like a dance, and you just make sure you don't step in the wrong place. But having that understanding was a huge thing. We would not have been able to do all of our rig and Patch work without that camp. I would never have felt safe enough to be up there doing that stuff like these guys are. [Chuckles]

I can only imagine. Did you ever see any close calls while you were shooting?

Jacob Lofland: I mean, there was a couple, no one ever got hurt or anything. But, it was all learning curves and figuring out how to run the stuff. I'm not going to say we didn't get close to maybe smashing a finger a time or two, but luckily, we were safe and nothing crazy happened. But that is the reason is those five days that we had. If it hadn't been for that, the chances of getting hurt goes up drastically. So that was probably the best thing is being there with Taylor. He will never be unprepared. That's one thing, he wants all of his people very overly prepared, if anything.

Lofland Hasn't Heard Anything About The Maze Runner Reboot

"...it was a great experience, and one that I'll never forget, for sure."

I think I'm coming close to time, so I did have one question outside of the show really quickly. Obviously, I'm a big Maze Runner fan. I've got my copies right behind me on my shelf. They're working on a new version of the franchise. I'm curious what your thoughts are on it coming back?

Jacob Lofland: I haven't heard that. Back in the day, there was talk about it, I just didn't know if anything was coming to fruition. No, that was a great experience, and I had such a great time with all those guys. I'm still really close with Dylan, I talk to Keon and Dexter. All of them are great dudes, and at the time, I think I was 18 when we did that. 18 in Albuquerque, with the hotel full of dudes, like we had a great time. We had airsoft wars in the hotel, and it was crazy, things we probably shouldn't have done. [Laughs] But I still keep in touch with all those dudes, and it was a great experience, and one that I'll never forget, for sure.

About Landman

Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, Landman is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. Based on the notable 11-part podcast “Boomtown,” the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.

Check out our other Landman interviews with:

• Billy Bob Thornton
• Ali Larter
• Jacob Lofland, James Jordan & Mark Collie (pre-release)
• Kayla Wallace & Paulina Chávez (pre-release)
• Kayla Wallace (post-episode 4)

New episodes of Landman air Sundays on Paramount+.