Billy Bob Thornton Says He and Taylor Sheridan Hang Out ‘After Hours’ While Making “Landman”: ‘I Love His Company’ (Exclusive)

Billy Bob Thornton says he and Taylor Sheridan hang out “after hours” and calls working on Landman “a lovely time”

NEED TO KNOW

• The actor reveals he was “literally crying” when he learned Sam Elliott would play his onscreen father

• Thornton predicts season 3 may blend season 1’s tension with season 2’s family and business dynamics

Billy Bob Thorntonis having a very good time onLandman— and it shows.

The actor, whostars as Tommy Norrisin the hitTaylor Sheridanseries, tells PEOPLE that working on the show has been nothing short of a dream, thanks in large part to the tight-knit cast and crew and his close bond with its creator.

“I trust this show a lot,” Thornton says while attending a specialLandmanscreening and Q&A in Hollywood on Thursday, April 16. “I trust Taylor and I trust the castmates. I trust our crew. Honestly, I wish I had, like, a creepy story or a complaint, but I don’t. I mean, it’s just, it’s a lovely time.”

That sense of ease extends well beyond the set. “Yeah, oh, it’s great. I love working with Taylor,” Thornton says. “I love hanging out with him after hours. He’s such a brilliant guy, great writer, and I love his company.”

During the April 16 panel discussion, Thornton emphasized just how much he values the people behind the scenes, calling theLandmancrew the best he’s worked with in hisdecades-long career.

“I have to say in all my years, I have never worked with a crew as good as the crew that we have onLandmanever, once,” he said. “You can’t find a bad apple in the bunch … they really are lovely people.”

Despite the show’s success, Thornton remains grounded in his approach to the role, even when moments from the series go viral. For example, when his character described the hosts ofThe Viewas a "bunch of pissed off millionaires bitching about how much they hate millionaires."

“Yeah, anytime you say anything about anybody in the media, obviously, it’s going to be a big thing,” he tells PEOPLE on the red carpet. “So I don’t know … they point me in a direction, and I do what I’m told and try to be myself.”

Part of what makesLandmanso compelling, Thornton explains, is the unpredictability, something he embraces as an actor.

“Taylor keeps it pretty close to the vest. He doesn’t really tell us until the last minute,” he shared on the panel. “Some actors like that, some actors don’t. I personally love it because in real life you don’t know what’s gonna happen next.”

That mystery is exactly what fuels his early thoughts on what’s to come.

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“I got a feeling season 3 is going to be a combination of season 1 and 2,” Thornton tells PEOPLE. “Where you’ll have the danger and the tension of season 1 with the sort of family craziness and the business side of season 2 … I have a feeling that that’s what it’s gonna be.”

He’s quick to clarify, though, that it’s just a guess, not insider knowledge. “I promise you no one told me that,” he adds with a laugh.

The actor also relishes the opportunity to share the screen with longtime friends, includingDemi MooreandSam Elliott.

“Demi and I go way back. I’ve known her a long time,” Thornton says. “And Sam and me and Andy and Demi all go way back. So it’s just a pleasure for us all to be together now and be able to be around each other a lot.”

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When Thornton first learned Elliott would be joining the series as his onscreen father, his reaction was emotional.

“Sam and I go way, way back. … and then Taylor called me one night … and when he told me it was Sam, I went to my wife, Connie. And I was literally crying when I told her … because I love this guy,” Thornton recalled during the panel.

As for whether fans can expect more scenes between the two? “Oh, I’m sure I will. Yeah, I love Sam,” Thornton says. “I mean, we’re like kinfolks almost.”

Earlier this year, Thornton stressed that the series' triumph was "a tribute" to Sheridan.

"He knows who to cast and for what part. He really does. Some writers write with their own voice for every character, but each person on this show is their own thing. I love that," he toldVarietyin February. "One of the most brilliant things Taylor's done with his shows is he has very strong individual characters with their own voices."

The first two seasons ofLandmanare streaming on Paramount+.

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