Matthew McConaughey to Star in Paul Greengrass’ ‘The Rage’

A reunion for the actor and director, it would focus on turmoil in Britain the 1300s when peasants rose up against high taxation and poor treatment.

Matthew McConaughey presents a nominee for Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Preview:

Matthew McConaughey will star in new historical drama ‘The Rage.’
Paul Greengrass is directing.
It’s a reunion for the pair following the upcoming ‘The Lost Bus.’

Is Matthew McConaughey the new Matt Damon? No, we don’t mean he’s taking over Damon’s role as Jason Bourne… he’s instead become a repeat creative collaborator with writer/director Paul Greengrass, who worked with Damon on several films, including some of the ‘Bourne’ franchise.

McConaughey, meanwhile, starred for Greengrass in wildfire drama ‘The Lost Bus’ (more on that below), and is now in talks to take another leading role, this time in history-based drama ‘The Rage.’

The Lost Bus

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Bus driver Kevin McKay and school teacher Mary Ludwig navigate a bus full of children through a deadly wildfire as the town of Paradise is caught in the destruction... Read the Plot

According to Deadline, McConaughey will play a key figure in the new movie, which Greengrass is gearing up to direct next.

It’s certainly in keeping with much of Greengrass’ work, which outside of the ‘Bourne’ films, often focuses on real-life events and high drama.

What’s the story of ‘The Rage’?

Matthew McConaughey arrives on the red carpet of The 90th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Credit/Provider: Scott Diussa / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: A.M.P.A.S.

The new movie, which Greengrass also wrote, is set to take place during the Peasants’ Revolt, a major uprising that took part across large parts of England in 1381 in response to socio-economic and political tensions and high taxation.

McConaughey is on for the role to play a farmer who becomes the leader of the revolt (which could indicate that he’s playing the legendary Wat Tyler, who led the uprising before being killed by forces loyal to King Richard, but that has yet to be confirmed).

Interestingly, the former title of the movie was ‘The Hood,’ since Tyler is one of the real-life people that has been taken as inspiration for the legend of Robin Hood (whose historical provenance is somewhat cloudier).

This is not the first incarnation of the movie; Greengrass previously set it up in 2022 with Benedict Cumberbatch attached to the Tyler role, and FilmNation (which is still aboard to represent the movie) had the rights for sale at that year’s Cannes Film Festival.

What is ‘The Lost Bus’?

Matthew McConaughey backstage during the live ABC Telecast of The 90th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Credit/Provider: Matt Sayles / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: A.M.P.A.S.

‘The Lost Bus’ has been a passion project for Jamie Lee Curtis since 2022, after hearing Lizzie Johnson talk about her book ‘Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire’ on the Camp Fire situation in an NPR interview. She investigated the rights and set it up with Blumhouse, where her Comet Pictures company has a first-look deal.

It follows heroic bus driver Kevin McKay (McConaughey in the film) and school teacher Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera), who helped navigate a bus full of children through the deadly wildfire as the town of Paradise in California is caught in the destruction and chaos. The fire destroyed most of the mountain town and killed 85.

‘Out Of The Furnace’s Brad Ingelsby adapted the script based on the book, and Greengrass came aboard as director in 2023.

Despite delays due to the strikes, it shot last year and seems certain to have particular resonance this year following the devastating fires in the territory north of Los Angeles.

What else does Matthew McConaughey have going on?

Matthew McConaughey at The 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Nick Agro ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Alongside ‘The Lost Bus,’ McConaughey has one other project shot and ready to head to theaters –– Andrew Patterson’s crime thriller ‘The Rivals of Amziah King.’

This movie follows a young woman named Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass), whose life takes a tragic turn when she loses her mother and leaves foster care.

Reuniting with her former foster parent, Amziah (McConaughey), changes everything: he becomes her mentor, revealing hidden skills when a devastating situation arises. Kateri relies on her newfound strength to seek justice.

‘The Rivals of Amziah King’ will premiere at this year’s SXSW festival in March.

But that’s not all that McConaughey is attached to: he’s also preparing to star in Apple TV+ comedy series which was formerly known as ‘Brother from Another Mother’ (but is listed as untitled right now) alongside old pal Woody Harrelson.

The 10-episode half-hour Apple TV+ comedy from ‘The Big Door Prize’ showrunner David West Read reunites Harrelson and McConaughey, who play heightened versions of themselves in a heartfelt odd couple love story revolving around their strange and beautiful sibling-like bond.

Matthew and Woody’s close friendship is tested when their combined families attempt to live together on Matthew’s ranch in Texas. Break out the bongs –– and the bongos –– and let the bonding commence!

Deadline brings word that Holland Taylor is now aboard the show as a fellow regular, playing McConaughey’s mother, Ma Mac.

Taylor, a veteran of stage and screen, was most recently seen in the likes of ‘Quiz Lady’ and scored her ninth Emmy nomination for her role in one of Apple’s big TV series ‘The Morning Show.’

When will ‘The Rage’ be in theaters?

‘The Rage’ is a project currently looking for a buyer, and its rights will be on sale at this year’s European Film Market in Berlin, so there is no release date to speak of as of yet.

On the other hand, ‘The Lost Bus’ will arrive this year via Apple (whether that means it hits theaters or goes straight to Apple TV+ remains to be seen).