Matt Walsh Returns in First Trailer for Indie Oil Thriller 'Williston'

Missing Landman this fall? Don't worry, we've got you covered. A trio of oilmen is headed into a deal that could mean fortune or famine in the first trailer for the new indie thriller Williston. Ghosts fan-favorite Matt Walsh trades comedy for drama in the new film, which is slated to make its world festival premiere next month. Before that, Collider is proud to exclusively present the first trailer for Williston.

The film comes from Adam Seidel, who serves as both writer and director on the film. It's his sophomore effort as writer/director, after the 2026 crime thriller Anywhere, with Sean Gunn. The movie was filmed on location in Oklahoma, and is a production of Buffalo 8. In the trailer, three representatives from an oil company, Larry (Walsh), Tom (Jonathan Lipnicki), and Barb (Geneva Carr), are headed to rural North Dakota to negotiate for the rights to what could be a massive oil bonanza beneath an aquifer. The problem is that the parcel of land in question is owned by Indian Jim, who harbors an intense resentment of the oil industry: every time someone's attempted to buy the rights in the past, they've been sent packing.

Tom's presence there is something of a mystery; he's only been with the company for a few weeks, but only veteran employees are sent to negotiate with Jim, whose negotiation demands are very unconventional and non-negotiable. Have they been sent on a fool's errand, or will they succeed where so many others have failed? You'll find out when Williston has its world premiere at the Coronado Island Film Festival in Coronado, California, on November 8.

Who Are the Stars of 'Williston'?

A former correspondent on The Daily Show, Matt Walsh has been a mainstay in the comedy scene for two decades, with appearances in Road Trip, Semi-Pro, and Old School; he was nominated for two Emmys for his role on the HBO comedy Veep. Lipnicki earned fame as a child star in the 1990s with roles in Jerry Maguire, Stuart Little, and Like Mike; he recently had a memorable role in the Robert Pattinson drama Primetime. Geneva Carr starred on the CBS legal drama Bull for six seasons; she is also a Tony nominee for her role in the play Hand to God. The film also features a number of up-and-coming indigenous actors, including Big Dan Warrior (Seven Cemeteries), Zachary Hokeah (Killers of the Flower Moon), Chris Gazaway (King Ivory), and Mike Simpson (Trail of Tears: The Hymn).