Andy Garcia doesn't accept just any role. The Cuban-American actor has always been selective about Latino representation on screen and rejects parts that perpetuate stereotypes. That's why his casting in Landman, the Paramount+ series created by Taylor Sheridan, raised eyebrows. However, in an interview with The Latin Times and ENSTARZ, he explained that from his first conversation with the creator, he could see that this project would be different.
"I got a call saying Taylor wanted to meet me and talk about this character he wanted to create for me," she recalled during a video call. "I went to visit him at his house in Fort Worth and we started talking."
García already admired Sheridan. "I was a fan of his work. When I started watching his films, I said, 'This guy is a great talent as a writer.' I knew him as an actor, but I didn't know he was the same writer," he said, laughing. The meeting was decisive because Sheridan not only wanted to hire him but also to build a character from scratch based on him.
"I asked Taylor where the character was from. 'Is he Mexican, Texan, Colombian?' he recounted. 'And he says, "No, no, it's you, it's you." Then I understood." That clarity convinced him that he was facing a role that respected his identity and artistic sensibility. García emphasized that these conversations were essential for trusting the creator's vision, who presented him with an authentic drug trafficker, essential to the story.
"When you're working with writers of Taylor's caliber, they recognize those things. And those were things we discussed. He sees it differently. You're in good hands," he added, referring to the artist and producer who has also created the worlds of Yellowstone, Special Ops: Lioness, and Tulsa King, among many other productions.
Gallino, the character he will play in Landman, doesn't fit the mold of the stereotypical Latino drug trafficker. García was emphatic: "He's not the stereotype." And he explained why. "For starters, Gallino isn't Mexican, he's Caribbean. In this case, he's Cuban." That deliberate choice connects him to a type of business figure who comes to Texas from elsewhere. "He's not from there. He saw an opportunity in that region and went there to exploit it."
Laughing, García added that the musicality of that origin is also present in the character. "You already know where the music comes from. I have it inside me. It's in my blood. The Caribbean spirit lives within me." When asked if Gallino had a specific song, he replied playfully, "All of them. All of them. There isn't one in particular." Even so, he clarified that he doesn't control the music for the series. "I'm not the director or the creator of the series. That's out of my hands."
Landman , based on the Texas oil and shale boom, is part of the expanding Sheridan universe, which already includes successful titles linked to Yellowstone. The series explores ambition, power, political tensions, and the human cost behind a multi-billion dollar industry. García's arrival brings a new dimension, especially given the character's Caribbean background and the moral weight that often accompanies the actor's roles.
In addition to his role in the series, García spoke about a deeply personal project that is gaining momentum again. It's a film about Operation Pedro Pan, a story he has championed for years. When asked about the videos circulating on TikTok, where Mexicans are already awaiting his arrival, he laughed in surprise. "I haven't arrived there yet," he clarified. But he confirmed: "I'm going to film, to support the project. It's an extremely important project that I've been supporting for many years."
Operation Peter Pan left its mark on more than fourteen thousand Cuban children who, between 1960 and 1962, were sent alone to the United States to escape Fidel Castro's regime. Many families were separated for years. For García, making this film is a historical and emotional responsibility.
The actor, known for films such as The Untouchables, The Godfather Part III, Ocean's Eleven , and The Mule , has built a career on the careful selection of roles. He reiterated why: "I'm very careful with the Latino characters I take on." Galino, therefore, not only represents a powerful role within Landman, but also an example of how García continues to demand complexity and dignity in the portrayal of his community.
With a character written specifically for him and his most intimate project about to begin filming, Andy Garcia enters a creative stage that blends legacy, identity, and the acting rigor that has defined his career.
