Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are teaming up for a new Apple TV comedy series that plays on one of the strangest long-running rumours surrounding their friendship.
Brothers stars the longtime friends as fictionalised versions of themselves, whose lives are thrown into chaos when they discover they might actually be related.
The Apple TV eight-episode series follows Woody after his daughter’s engagement falls apart. He packs up the family and heads to Matthew’s ranch in Austin, hoping for an extended stay that will help everyone recover.
Things quickly become much more complicated when Matthew’s mother, Ma Mac, played by Holland Taylor, accidentally reveals a decades-old family secret.
The revelation leads Woody to believe that he and Matthew could actually be brothers.
Woody then begins investigating the claim, turning Matthew’s ranch upside down as he searches for answers. Meanwhile, Matthew has his own problems to deal with as he considers a potential run for Governor of Texas.
The series promises a mix of friendship, family, fame and plenty of chaos, while playing with the blurred line between the actors’ real lives and their fictional versions.
The idea that McConaughey and Harrelson could be related is not completely fictional. The pair have been friends for decades and have previously spoken about the unusual circumstances surrounding their families.
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In a 2023 interview with Esquire, Harrelson said the pair had never actually taken a DNA test, but admitted there were some remarkable coincidences.
“I don’t know because we haven’t done the testing. But I can say that there’s a lot of almost insane coincidences. His mom had a relationship with my dad right around the time he was conceived. That seems like a big coincidence.”
The real-life rumour has clearly stuck with fans, who were quick to react when footage from Brothers appeared online.
One fan commented: “They’re finally giving the people what they want!”
Another joked that the actors should take a real DNA test after filming, writing: “I hope at the end when the credits roll, we get footage of them taking a real DNA test after they shot the movie.”
A third fan added: “I’m so happy they’ve finally done a movie together like this!!! I love how close they are! Can’t wait to see this!!”
McConaughey and Harrelson previously worked together on the first season of True Detective, where they played detectives Rust Cohle and Marty Hart.
The ensemble cast for Apple TV's Brothers also includes Natalie Martinez, Brittany Ishibashi, Nolan Almeida, Ella Grace Helton, Noah Carganilla, Highdee Kuan, Oona Yaffe and Holland Taylor.
The series is produced for Apple TV by Paramount Television Studios, with McConaughey and Harrelson serving as executive producers.
Lee Eisenberg is showrunner and executive producer, while Natalie Sandy, David West Read, Trish Hofmann, Bill Bost, Jason Winer, David Finkel, Brett Baer and Jeremy Plager also executive produce.
Trent O’Donnell directs several episodes, including the pilot.
Brothers will premiere on Apple TV on September 23, with the first two episodes released on the same day. A new episode will then arrive every Wednesday until the finale on November 4.
