"True Detective" star Matthew McConaughey arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film ''Mud'', in competition at the 65th Cannes Film Festival, May 26, 2012. (Photo : REUTERS/JEAN-PAUL PELISSIER)
Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey is returning to his comedy roots as he signs up to star in the upcoming stoner comedy "The Beach Bum" that will be directed by "Spring Breakers" writer and director Harmony Korine.
McConaughey will play Moondog, "a rebellious and loveable rogue who lives life large," Deadline reports. "The Beach Bum" follows Moondog's misadventures, and Korine describes it as a "wild, audacious ride."
"I can't think of anyone better than Matthew McConaughey to play our hero Moondog, a rebellious charmer in this fast-paced, uplifiting and irreverent comedy," Korine comments on McConaughey's casting.
John Lesher (LeGrisbi Productions), Steve Golin (Anonymous Contents) and Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad Belkeddar and Nicholas Lhermitte (Iconoclast) are attached to produce the film. Rocket Science has bagged international rights to the title in Berlin. According to Variety, principal photography is scheduled to begin in July this year.
"McConaughey's Moondog character is pure charisma - a force of nature and an uncompromising maverick with a lust for life and everything it throws at him. 'The Beach Bum' brings together an incredible team of acting, directing and producing talent," Rocket Science's Throsten Schumacher said.
"The Beach Bum" will be McConaughey's comeback to the comedy genre. In recent times, the award-winning actor has been attached to more serious movies as Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar," Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street," Jeff Nichols' "Mud" and Jean Marc Vallee's "Dallas Buyers Club."
Meanwhile, McConaughey is also starring in a movie about White Boy Rick. Filming will begin in Cleveland this spring.
The still-unnamed feature tells the story of Richard Wershe, Jr. who was jailed for 30 years for a nonviolent drug crime he committed as a youngster in 1988. Before his time in prison, Wershe worked as a paid FBI informant, helping authorities pin down drug dealers and suppliers, including the brother in law of then-mayor of Detroit. Wershe continued giving the police information while allowing his own drug business to grow until he was finally busted at the age of 17.
McConaughey is playing Wershe's father. He will be joined by Bruce Dern, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rory Cochrane.
