Landman Season 2: Guy Burnet On Charlie’s Impact On Rebecca’s Journey

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Be warned, this contains spoilers for Landman season 2, episode 6, “Dark Night of the Soul”! In season 2 of Landman, Kayla Wallace’s character, Rebecca, seems to have found a real rival in Guy Burnet’s Charlie. In season 1, Rebecca often challenged Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris and his family, questioning his business methods while also working to shield M-Tex Oil from legal trouble.

Rebecca first met Charlie on a flight from Dallas to Midland in season 2 of Landman. He was a friendly oil worker who helped her calm her fear of flying with conversation and a few drinks, and they ended up spending the night together. They ran into each other again in episode 6, “Dark Night of the Soul,” when Rebecca was sent to meet a geologist to supervise a new well’s drilling. To her surprise, the geologist turned out to be Charlie.

With plans to take things slowly for the remainder of the season, ScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns spoke with Guy Burnet about his potential return for Landman season 2. Burnet admitted he hadn’t actually watched the show before being offered a role, but he was a fan of co-creator Taylor Sheridan’s films. He quickly became captivated by Landman while watching season 1 to prepare.

I genuinely enjoyed this show – it’s not just something I say for interviews. It’s rare to find something that really grabs you, and I found myself completely invested. Usually, I’ll watch something and think, ‘I’m not sure about this,’ but this one was different. It appeals to everyone – it really covers all the bases. What I especially appreciated was its lack of pretension. It perfectly balances the drama, comedy, and craziness of the story. I thought, ‘This is great, I want to be involved,’ and I really hope it gets renewed.

Burnet unexpectedly met Sheridan before he officially knew he’d been cast in Landman season 2. Sheridan playfully greeted him as his “new employee” and they started talking about the character of Charlie. Sheridan revealed he’d envisioned Charlie as an Indiana Jones-type figure, which Burnet thought was a surprisingly apt description.

Burnet was surprised when Sheridan told him he didn’t need to use an American accent for the role, explaining that the character, Charlie, was essentially himself. Sheridan hinted that while Charlie will initially use his skills to help Rebecca, his main purpose is to prepare her for what’s coming later in the season. Burnet confirmed Charlie will bring a new layer to Rebecca’s story and teased that his character will unintentionally cause Rebecca’s personal and professional lives to overlap. He described a strong, almost instinctive connection between the two characters, suggesting they are drawn together by an undeniable force.

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

They decided to proceed cautiously, seeing where things would lead, even though they didn’t expect much to come of it. As the situation developed, it became clear this man had specialized knowledge in the field. This naturally leads to his involvement with the world of Billy Bob Thornton and Demi Moore’s M-Tex. Ultimately, his connections will expand beyond just his relationship with Rebecca.

Recalling his time with Billy Bob Thornton, Burnet fondly described becoming close friends with the Oscar-winning actor during the series’ filming. He praised Thornton as a genuinely great person, saying they would spend evenings drinking Michelob Ultras and talking about life. Burnet considers Thornton to be one of the best people he’s ever met.

Rebecca & Charlie’s First Landman Season 2 Scene Was A Curious One For Burnet & Wallace

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

ScreenRant asked Taylor and the team seemed very keen on casting me. I’m interested in hearing about the process of designing Charlie’s appearance and overall style.

I kind of maintained the mullet for a while because there was a specific reason for it. I had long hair and decided to cut it myself with kitchen scissors, but I kept the back long – the mullet. When Taylor first met me, he was clearly surprised! Here I was, an English guy living in New York, sporting a mullet, and he just accepted it. It’s amazing, honestly. He’s a genius. He doesn’t try to create a character from scratch. He observes you, understands you, and then seamlessly blends your personality with whatever ideas he already has. He incorporates you into the character! I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’m actually going to cut it off soon, but I wanted to enjoy it a little longer.

ScreenRant asked the actor how it felt to perform in the Texas oil fields while wearing a weighted suit to simulate extra weight.

Most of the filming took place in Texas, but we did spend some time on an oil rig in Louisiana. It was really humid and buggy there, to the point where I had bugs living in my hair! It got incredibly hot, but I actually loved that. I’m used to warmer weather – my family comes from hot climates – and I much prefer it to the cold in places like New York and London. I really fell in love with Texas and enjoyed being there.

ScreenRant commented on how much they enjoyed the charming first encounter between the characters on the airplane, calling it a wonderfully chaotic way to introduce them. They also asked if that scene was actually the first one the actors filmed together.

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

The first intimate scene between our characters was actually after we’d already met. I suggested we get together beforehand to discuss things, and she was very open to exploring the dynamic. That initial bedroom scene was a fun way to break the ice, and I often wonder if our later scene on the plane would have played out the same way without it. After filming the bedroom scene, Taylor and I talked a lot about establishing that her character is completely out of my character’s league – she wouldn’t normally be interested in someone like me. She’s successful, attractive, and strong-willed, while my character is more of a carefree adventurer. The connection isn’t about him pursuing her; it happens because of the circumstances. He’s just being friendly when they’re seated together, and her fear of flying during turbulence creates a situation where they connect. I even questioned on set whether the audience would buy it – would they believe she’d be with someone like him? Thankfully, the situation makes it plausible. He assumes it will be a one-time thing, and she feels the same way, but you never know what the universe has in store for people who are meant to be together.

ScreenRant asked about the dynamic between my character and Charlie’s. They noted my character is spirited and that Charlie balances being kind with a quick wit, especially when responding to me. I was asked how I approach playing a character who embodies those contrasting traits.

That’s a great question. As an actor, you always hope for internal or external conflict for your character. In this case, my character acts as a catalyst for Rebecca’s character, allowing her to explore new facets of herself – which is a fantastic opportunity for Kayla. I approached the role thinking about how I could best serve the story and her character. What could I bring to their dynamic? He definitely feels out of her league, and the situation is wild, but he’s a risk-taker, optimistic, and skilled at what he does. He’s on his own path, and being with her would be a huge win. If it doesn’t work out, he’ll simply move on. What I found interesting as an actor is that this resonated with my own life experiences – that slight fear that something wonderful might not last. There’s a push and pull – he’s attracted to her, but wary, and he’s also trying to advance his career, but doesn’t want to complicate things. He kind of expects to get hurt eventually, so he tries to enjoy the moment. All of these internal struggles are happening while we’re telling the story you see on screen, and that’s the most rewarding thing as an actor – playing a character with that level of complexity.

Be sure to dive into some of our other Landman season 2 coverage with:

  • Our Landman season 2 episode 6 review
  • Our guide to what episode 6’s ending means for the show’s future
  • Our pre-release Landman season 2 interviews with Ali Larter, Michelle Randolph, Jacob Lofland, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Colm Feore, Mark Collie, Mustafa Speaks and Christian Wallace
  • Paulina Chávez on ScreenRant‘s Debunking AI series
  • Kayla Wallace on ScreenRant‘s Debunking AI series
  • Showrunner Christian Wallace and the cast weighing in on Landman‘s future without Taylor Sheridan
  • How Sam Elliott’s character will bring “really beautiful moments” to the show
  • How the death of Jon Hamm’s Monty is still impacting the characters this season

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2025-12-24 20:31