We can add Kurt Russell to the cast list of The Rivals Of Amziah King, an indie crime thriller starring Matthew McConaughey.
Little is known about the project, which is being kept under wraps. Even Russell's involvement wasn't known until a starstruck family in small-town Alabama reported the actor and a film crew had spent the day in their house shooting scenes.
The Rivals Of Amziah King has been described as "a deeply atmospheric, character-focused crime thriller set against the unique backdrop of remote Oklahoma," and McConaughey is set to play the titular Amziah King.
The project is written and directed by breakout filmmaker Andrew Patterson, who turned heads with his debut film The Vast of Night. Among the sparse details we could scrounge up, The Rivals Of Amziah King isn't just about revenge and crime — it's also about bees. Here's the project summary from Production List:
"Kateri's life takes a tragic turn as she loses her mother and leaves foster care. Reuniting with her former foster parent, Amziah, changes everything. He becomes her mentor, revealing hidden skills. When a devastating situation arises, Kateri relies on her newfound strength to seek justice. Years later, she returns to her small town, diving into beekeeping while searching for her missing grandfather. Through her journey, Kateri learns about the importance of bees and strives to save them, honoring her grandfather's legacy."
Quite the whirlwind moment for Patterson. The Vast of Night was a self-funded project that went to Amazon Prime after a few weeks of being aired at drive-thru theaters. Now he's landed some serious star power behind this latest project, and a mentor in acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Eleven, Magic Mike)
Russell recently appeared in F9: The Fast Saga and lent his voice to What If... ? the Marvel animated superhero series. McConaughey has recently done voice work on animated films but hasn't appeared in front of the camera since The Gentlemen in 2019. Between this and the announcement he'll star in an upcoming Yellowstone sequel series, we're thinking he missed it.
