Billy Bob Thornton’s Dream Collaboration: Country Icons On Screen
Billy Bob Thornton, known for both his acting and music, is keen to team up with country stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw for a screen project, after previously crossing paths in film and TV.
Billy Bob Thornton has never been too fussed about labels, especially when it comes to his work. Some reckon he’s an actor who dabbles in music, but that doesn’t quite sit right with him. Whether he’s a muso who acts or the other way round, it’s all the same to Thornton. He’s spent just as much time behind a mic as he has in front of a camera, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. These days, he might churn out more films than albums, but he’s on the road with his band more often than he’s on set. That balance is exactly what he’s after, and he’s managed to keep one foot in each world for years now.
Still, there’s one thing he’s yet to tick off his list: bringing his two passions together in a new way. Thornton’s worked with a fair few big names in music, both solo and with the Boxmasters. He even knocked back a chance to direct a promo for Bob Dylan, one of his heroes. But there are two people he’s especially keen to work with—not in the studio, but on screen.
Country Royalty and Shared Histories
If you’re not across country music, you might not realise just how massive Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are in the States. They’re both huge in their own right, and together, they’re the genre’s ultimate power couple. Besides their music, both have had a crack at acting, and their paths have crossed with Thornton’s more than once.
McGraw had a supporting part in the 2004 sports drama Friday Night Lights, where Thornton played the lead. Later, both Hill and McGraw starred as Margaret and James Dutton in the series 1883, with Thornton popping up as the 19th-century marshal Jim Courtright. They’ve been mates for ages, but so far, they’ve only shared the screen in passing, never really teaming up properly.
Hopes for a New On-Screen Partnership
Recently, someone floated the idea of Hill and McGraw joining the cast of Thornton’s much-hyped TV series Landman. Thornton was all for it, saying,
“Well, that would be awesome if they do. But, you know, Taylor Sheridan, he kind of picks and chooses whatever he wants for the show. We don’t have a lot of clout in terms of that, but maybe we’ll bring their names up and see what happens.”
Sheridan, who’s known for casting familiar faces across his projects, has a knack for making shows that appeal to country fans. So, there’s every chance Thornton might get his wish. If not, there’s always the option of recording a track together down the line.