Matthew McConaughey has recently opened up about the potential familial connection he shares with his True Detective co-star and good friend Woody Harrelson.
Speculation has persisted for some time that the two celebrities might be more than just friends, with discussions about this dating back to 2023.
Back then, Harrelson mentioned having ‘proof’ that McConaughey could potentially be his younger brother.
In an interview with Esquire, Harrelson recounted an incident where McConaughey’s father allegedly refused to accompany the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days star’s mother, Mary McCabe, to the hospital, reportedly saying: “That ain’t my son.”
It’s believed that McConaughey’s mother had a brief relationship with Harrelson’s father, during which time the Interstellar actor could have been conceived.
The possibility of them being related has been a topic of discussion for the duo, and at one point, they considered taking a DNA test to find out the truth.
Recently, McConaughey elaborated on their potential family ties during a conversation on Harrelson’s podcast with Ted Danson.
During the discussion, McConaughey recounted the evening that sparked questions about his biological father.
“Our kids have always thought we were brothers, or at least that we acted like brothers,” he explained. “About eight years ago, we were in Greece with both our families, and my mom was there, and I think [Harrelson’s] kids found an old picture from high school of me. Everyone looked at it and thought it was him.”
The Dallas Buyers Club actor went on to say: “Out of nowhere, my mom, likely on her third glass of Kendall-Jackson, said, ‘Oh Woody, I knew… your father.'”
“The pause was perfect, like an ellipsis as you might say, and even my young kids picked up on the innuendo. […] From that night, this mystery began.”
McConaughey further mentioned that Harrelson has always been thrilled about the idea of them being brothers. However, McConaughey himself is more hesitant, as discovering this could mean gaining a brother but also potentially losing the father he has known.
The two actors are now collaborating on a new series for AppleTV+ titled Brothers.
The show will explore their friendship and the challenges it faces when their fictional families move in together on McConaughey’s Texas ranch.
While McConaughey and Harrelson will portray themselves, their ‘families’ will be played by actors. Holland Taylor, Natalie Martinez of Kingdom, and Brittany Ishibashi from Hawaii 5-0 are among the cast.
A release date for the comedy series has not yet been announced.