Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson announced in March they will be reuniting onscreen after EDtv and True Detective in a new Apple TV+ comedy from creatorDavid West Read. The 10-episode series will star the actors as fictionalized versions of themselves as they bring their families under the same roof on a Texas ranch. McConaughey recently announced on Kelly Ripas Lets Talk Off Camera podcast that the series is titled Brother From Another Mother.
While the series title evokes McConaughey and Harrelsons real-life friendship over decades, McConaughey let it slip to Ripa that hes actually questioning whether Harrelson is actually related to him. It all stems from the revelation that McConaugheys mother knew Harrelsons father, perhaps intimately.
You know, where I start and where he ends, and where he starts and I end, has always been like a murky line, McConaughey said. And thats part of our bromance, right? My kids call him Uncle Woody. His kids call me Uncle Matthew. And you see pictures of us and my family thinks a lot of pictures of him are me. His family thinks a lot of pictures of me are him.
In Greece a few years ago, were sitting around talking about how close we are and our families, McConaughey continued. And my mom is there, and she says, Woody, I knew your dad. Everyone was aware of the ellipses that my mom left after knew. It was a loaded K-N-E-W.
The revelation led McConaughey to investigate his family history. He said, We went on to unpack what this knew meant and did some math and found out that [Harrelsons] dad was on furlough at the same time that my mom and dad were in their second divorce. Then theres possible receipts and places out in West Texas where there might have been a gathering, or a meeting, or a knew moment.
Whether or not this real-life question factors into the Apple TV+ comedy series remains to be seen. The actors have not yet decided to take a DNA test to get proof about a potential family connection between them.
Look, its a little easier for Woody to say, Come on, lets do [DNA tests], because whats the skin in it for him? McConaughey said. Its a little harder for me because hes asking me to take a chance to go, Wait a minute, youre trying to tell me my dad may not be my dad after 53 years of believing that? I got a little more skin in the game.
In the logline for Brother From Another Mother, Apple TV+ calls the show a heartfelt odd couple love story revolving around the strange and beautiful bond between Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.
Skydance Television is behind the series, which is executive produced by Read, as well as Harrelson and McConaughey. Other exec producers include David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Matt Thunell for Skydance Television, along with Bill Bost and Jeremy Plager.