Even with his Oscar beside him, Matthew McConaughey showed he’s still open to more than small-to-mid budget features today with last year’s Interstellar. Of course, not every movie is directed by Christopher Nolan, but certainly that’s not going to stop studio executives from coming up to him and his agent with new hot properties. That is, unless they read the reviews to his new Cannes feature. But the actor remains open to the prospects — even some certain franchise properties — if they can provide the goods he wants.
In an interview with Variety to discuss his much maligned Gus Van Sant feature Sea of Trees, the conversation transitioned to talk to superhero movies today when the actor discussed how he and his Dallas Buyers Club cast and crew were allotted $5 million and 27 days to make their Oscar-winning film, yet tentpole projects like superhero movies get free reign. When asked if he was in consideration for any of these big-budget projects, McConaughey revealed he’d not only be willing to play one of these roles but he’s also already read some scripts from both Marvel and DC.
I’ve read some Marvel and DC scripts and I’ve talked about working with them on some scripts, none of which I’ll share with with you what they are — or were. Yeah, I’ve circled some of those. Nothing has been right for me yet. But I’m sure open to it.
What will it take to get McConaughey to get in the tights and sign a multi-picture deal? According to him, it all comes down to the basics: story and character.
It’s very simple for me. I look at the script. Is the opportunity exciting? Is the money that comes with it exciting? Sure. Is it the possibility of going, “Hey you can get on a train and it can be a franchise and you could do 3, 4, 5, and have a great time as some kind of superhero or anti-hero.” But I would also look at something like that and say, “Hey, in success that means you are on the train for a while.” Contractually, you’re going to return to the character over and over. It’s something I asked myself is it something I’d want to return to. Would I be excited to go back and put the shoes on the character again? Going and doing the press tour with that group of people again? I always ask myself those questions again. It starts with the story and character.
In the midst of his talk of whether or not he’d return to put on a superhero cape or two, he also revealed why he didn’t strip back down for this summer’s Magic Mike XXL. Speculation suggested both scheduling, money and other conflicts were what factored in his absence. And while the actor doesn’t mention anything about his salary, it did seem to come down to more than fitting time into his planner.
Part of it was scheduling. I did the first one. Dallas was Dallas. He’s a lightning rod. I didn’t see how he would or should return. I never could crack that nut. And so I wanted to make it work, but it just didn’t work out.
Regardless, McConaughey is currently filming a role in Gary Ross‘ The Free State of Jones, which wraps in three weeks after McConaughey returns from the South of France. He also has other roles soon-to-be in production, including Gold with Michelle Williams and Laika‘s latest, Kubo and the Two Strings.
