Taylor Sheridan has proven himself a master of casting Hollywood icons into his expanding TV empire. From Kevin Costner in Yellowstone to Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in 1923, Sheridan consistently draws legendary names to his projects. Now, two of the biggest Western stars of their generation are joining the fold—Sam Elliott in Landman season 2 and Kurt Russell in The Madison.

Sam Elliott Reunites with Billy Bob Thornton in Landman

Elliott, a face synonymous with the Western genre, will play the father of Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) in the upcoming season of Landman. It’s a reunion of sorts, as both men starred in Sheridan’s 1883. Now, they’ll share the screen again in South Texas’s oil fields—a very different backdrop but still infused with Sheridan’s gritty realism.

Elliott’s presence alone brings weight and authenticity to Landman, a series already cemented as a Paramount+ hit.

Kurt Russell Joins The Madison – A Casting Masterstroke

While Elliott’s addition excites fans, Sheridan may have topped himself by casting Kurt Russell in The Madison, a Yellowstone spinoff set in Montana’s Madison Valley. The series, led by Michelle Pfeiffer as matriarch Stacy Clyburn, explores a family grappling with survival and legacy in modern-day Montana.

Russell hasn’t starred in a Western TV series since 1976’s The Quest. For many fans, his return to the genre feels like a homecoming. Add to that his cultural impact in films like Tombstone and his recent high-profile role in Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Russell’s casting feels like Sheridan’s boldest move yet.

Sheridan’s Tombstone Connection

Sheridan appears to have a soft spot for 1993’s Tombstone. With Elliott, Billy Bob Thornton, and now Russell all cast in his shows, he’s effectively reunited much of that iconic ensemble across his television empire.

If Val Kilmer—beloved as Doc Holliday—were still alive, there’s little doubt Sheridan would have brought him into the Yellowstone universe as well.

Why Russell’s Role Matters More

Sam Elliott’s casting enriches Landman, but Kurt Russell in The Madison brings a whole new level of prestige. Elliott joins a proven success, while Russell’s presence could create one—drawing audiences to a brand-new corner of the Yellowstone saga.

It’s a reminder that Sheridan doesn’t just write Westerns; he casts them with the very legends who helped shape the genre.