Christian Wallace is a versatile screenwriter, journalist, and storyteller from West Texas, renowned for his deep insights into American life and culture. Hailing from the small town of Andrews, Texas, Wallace's roots are intertwined with the hardworking ethos of his family, who are cotton farmers, oil field workers, and cowboys. His upbringing in a region shaped by the oil and gas industry provided him with an authentic perspective on the lives and challenges of those connected to the energy sector.
“I grew up in a small town called Andrews. My family are cotton farmers, oil field hands, and working cowboys,” Wallace said.
Wallace pursued higher education with dual BAs in History and English from Texas State University in San Marcos. He further honed his craft by earning a master's degree in writing from the University of Galway in Ireland, combining his passion for history and storytelling into a unique narrative style.
As a journalist, Wallace gained recognition for his work with Texas Monthly and other notable publications, delving into topics ranging from rural culture to the complexities of the energy industry.
“I reported, wrote, and hosted Boomtown, a podcast about the Permian Basin. The series topped the Apple Podcasts chart in the documentary category and has more than five million downloads,” Wallace said. “Taylor Sheridan and I co-created a Paramount+ series loosely based on Boomtown called “Landman”. The show debuted on November 17, 2024.”
His acclaimed Boomtown podcast, which explored the realities of life in oil-boom towns, became a springboard for the creation of the TV series Landman. This Taylor Sheridan-led project brings Wallace's insights to the screen, examining the lives of "landmen" and the nuanced world of big oil.
“Texas Monthly magazine hired me as a fact-checker in 2016. I was later promoted to staff writer and senior editor. During my tenure at “the National Magazine of Texas," I wrote seven cover stories,” Wallace said. “My storytelling has been nominated for three National Magazine Awards, as well as several state and regional awards. My stories have been optioned for Hollywood adaptation by HBO (the high-adrenaline world of oil field medics), Tom Hanks's Playtone (the Jackie Robinson of Rodeo, Myrtis Dightman), and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way (the legendary lawman, Bass Reeves).”
In the interview Wallace also shares some views and insights on the original Paramount + series Landman.
“The cartel storyline for example, that's based on a story I actually heard,” Wallace said. “It's testimony of a Texas Ranger out in Loving County, you know, they landed on this rural road and ended up getting in a shootout with the Texas Rangers.”
Wallace also talked about some of the cast members as well, whether they have a background or connection to the oil and gas industry.
“Obviously Billy (Bob Thorton) is great in every scene,” Wallace said. “But Jacob (Lofland), I’d like to just mention that we had a lot of actors audition for that role and for me, Jacob was the clear choice because he feels to me like he embodies that role and his father actually built rigs and is from Arkansas.”
Wallace also mentioned several other cast members, including the juxtaposition of age and values with the two attorneys.
“I think they're great foils to one another um funnily enough they're both Canadian actors Kayla Wallace and Colin Feore and they're they're both great great actors.”
Through his work in journalism and television, Christian Wallace has cemented his reputation as a voice for underrepresented communities, shedding light on the stories of those who shape America's industries and landscapes.
Landman is a drama series that premiered on Paramount+ on November 17, 2024. It stars Billy Bob Thornton in the lead role, playing a "landman," a fixer who negotiates deals for an oil company to secure access to valuable lands.
The series dives into the moral and economic complexities of the energy sector, portraying a gritty, layered story of power, environmental challenges, and corporate maneuvering. Thornton’s performance anchors the series, lending gravitas and nuance to a character operating in ethically ambiguous territory.
Landman provides a rare look into the often-overlooked dynamics of land negotiations and energy production, offering both drama and a provocative glimpse into a powerful industry. Its future remains uncertain, as Paramount+ has not yet confirmed a second season.
At the end of the day, Wallace sees Landman as a net-positive for the industry due to the storylines that guide a narrative to humanize the industry.
“One of the biggest things that's lacking from the (oil and gas) narrative is the human stories. I think when people say oil, they think of capital B, capital - Big Oil,” Wallace said. “They think of Exxon, Chevron, and they forget about the thousands and thousands of workers across America and across the world, frankly, that are honestly the heart and soul of the industry that make it all run, that makes our societies run.”
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