Abhiroop Das
Apple TV’s ‘Brothers,’ a collaboration between Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Lee Eisenberg, and David West Read, follows fictionalized Matthew and Woody on an adventure unlike any other as they decide to live together with their families on a ranch for some time. After Matthew’s mother nonchalantly insinuates that her son and Woody might actually be biological brothers, an idea of a rather strange possibility is planted in Woody’s head. Before long, the two actors find themselves retracing their past in search of such connections, and the result is a comedy series with a unique, meta-commentary take on identity, friendship, and, of course, brotherhood.
A Reveal by Matthew McConaughey’s Mother Sparked the Story of Brothers
While ‘Brothers’ is not a true story in the conventional sense, its premise traces back to a real anecdote about Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson that is now part of Hollywood pop culture. The show itself claims to be based on rumors rather than facts, and that seems to be as accurate a description as any. As for its apparent metafictional elements, they are mainly activated through Matthew and Woody playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Apart from their names, appearance, and professions, everything else is dramatized to a significant extent by the actors, as well as co-creators David West Read, Lee Eisenberg, and the rest of the writing team.
The real story behind the show actually began many years ago, in Greece. Matthew, Woody, and their families were vacationing together when their children began comparing pictures of their fathers from their younger years. In a conversation with Vanity Fair, Matthew recalled them saying, “Man, you two: Those mannerisms are the same, you look alike. It’s like you’re brothers.” However, nothing could prepare them for when Kay McConaughey, Matthew’s mother, turned towards Woody and said that she knew his father, Charles Harrelson. “It was a loaded K-N-E-W,” Matthew later added during an appearance on the ‘Let’s Talk Off Camera’ podcast, indicating that there was more to the story than what was hidden between the lines.
Intrigued by Kay’s seemingly casual reveal, Matthew and Woody began to dig deeper into their respective pasts, only to come across one potential point of intersection. Matthew continued, “(We) did some math and found out that (Woody’s) dad was on furlough at the same time that my mom and dad were in their second divorce.” This, coupled with their finding of potential receipts, led them to believe that Charles and Kay may have met and interacted in West Texas several decades ago. Matthew further insinuated that there may even have been what he describes as a “‘knew’ moment,” but that claim has not been substantiated as of writing, and remains a possibility that the two actors end up exploring through the series.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson’s Friendship Began on a Film Set Decades Ago
While Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are perhaps best known for essaying detectives Rustin Cohle and Martin “Marty” Hart in ‘True Detective,’ their real-life friendship dates back much further. Though the actors first worked together on the comedy film ‘EDtv,’ in which they, poetically enough, play brothers, Woody recalled in an interview with Variety that he met Matthew at a Creative Artists Agency party, where they had tequila. Matthew, however, associates their first encounter with another memory, specifically of Woody arriving at an ‘EDtv’ pre-production meeting wearing cycling gear and carrying his bicycle. From there, the actors quickly became friends and remained so between their projects.
In ‘Brothers,’ Matthew and Woody’s long-standing friendship is adapted with a relatively high degree of accuracy. The show maintains, for instance, that the duo has known each other for more than 25 years, which lines up with the real-life timeline. Furthermore, the opening episode sees Woody make an unannounced trip to Matthew’s house, which is consistent with Matthew’s description of their relationship to the Los Angeles Times. As such, the show uses the theory about the actors being brothers as a springboard, from which the story develops entirely new and original plotlines.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson Often Muse About Getting a DNA Test
When Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson learned about their parents’ potential connection, it made them re-focus on other, seemingly relevant details, such as the fact that their kids often confuse them in photographs. The show develops this concept in a more humorous fashion, with its opening track bringing together real-life pictures from the actors’ childhood and youth, and letting the viewers make the connections for themselves. As of writing, the duo has not taken a DNA test to confirm whether they are related by blood, but the idea has not left their minds either.
“It’s a little harder for me,” Matthew shared on the ‘Let’s Talk Off Camera’ podcast, expressing that he has “more skin in the game,” considering that it’s the identity of his biological father that is at stake. Woody, on the other hand, seemingly has complete faith in the fact that he and his ‘Brothers’ co-star are actually brothers in real life. Going further, he even humorously added that he’d be distressed if a DNA test confirmed that they are not related. While Matthew has stated that they don’t need to do any such tests, for now, he also admitted that there is a good chance that they will eventually get to it and see the results for themselves.
For series co-creator Lee Eisenberg, however, the anecdote and the hype surrounding it largely serve as a narrative jumping-off point. During his conversation with Vanity Fair, he expressed his desire not to present this story a quasi docuseries and instead use these meta elements to make “the funniest, most heartwarming version of a show.” More than just the unique premise, it’s the sheer chemistry of Matthew and Woody as actors that makes ‘Brothers’ feel so intensely realistic in how it presents the ups and downs of their cherished friendship.
Read More: Is Best of the Best Based on a True Story or a Real Dance Competition?
You must be logged in to post a comment.