McConaughey and Harrelson Star in Apple TV Series Brothers

Actors Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson reunite for the upcoming eight-episode Apple TV comedy series Brothers, set to premiere on September 23, 2026, where they play fictionalized versions of themselves exploring a long-standing rumor that they might actually be half-brothers.

The concept for the series originated nine years ago during a family vacation in Greece when McConaughey's mother, Mary Kathlene McConaughey, revealed she had known Harrelson's father before McConaughey was born. The actors later realized their parents were in the same area during a period when McConaughey's parents were undergoing a divorce.

Created alongside showrunner Lee Eisenberg and David West Read, the Austin-based comedy blends fictitious parodies of their public personas with real-life inspirations. In the show, Holland Taylor portrays McConaughey's mother, while McConaughey's character considers a run for Texas governor as Harrelson's family visits his ranch on a bus.

Harrelson addressed the tone of the show during an appearance at the Sarajevo Film Festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he received an honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award.

"Everyone’s going, ‘Man, you two: Those mannerisms are the same, you look alike. It’s like you're brothers!’" said Matthew McConaughey, Actor.

The duo previously shared the screen in the 1999 comedy EDtv and the first season of HBO's anthology drama True Detective in 2014, earning Emmy nominations for their roles. McConaughey noted that while Harrelson suggested taking a DNA test to confirm their relation, he remains hesitant due to the personal implications regarding his father, Big Jim.

"Woody believed it from the get-go, and I don’t believe it from the get-go," said Matthew McConaughey, Actor.

Eisenberg explained that both actors were eager collaborators who embraced poking fun at themselves, including references to McConaughey's luxury vehicle commercials and Harrelson's preference for avoiding cellphones.

"They just love each other," said Lee Eisenberg, Showrunner. "They just really enjoy one another like brothers."

Harrelson recounted the moment McConaughey's mother shared the revelation over drinks.

"Oh, I knew your father," said Mary Kathlene McConaughey, Mother of Matthew McConaughey.

Reflecting on the initial writing process, McConaughey explained how letting go of complete accuracy allowed the comedy to flourish.

"They just love each other," said Lee Eisenberg, Showrunner.

Harrelson expressed his ongoing admiration for his costar's conversational depth during their frequent discussions.

"Matthew’s a philosopher, so it’s good to drill down on some of his philosophy because it just gets better and better the more you talk," said Woody Harrelson, Actor.

Eisenberg reinforced that the series was designed to prioritize narrative humor over documentary-style precision.

"From the moment I came aboard, I said, ‘Let’s use your life as a jumping-off point, but we’re not doing a docuseries,’" said Lee Eisenberg, Showrunner. "Let’s play with creative license and make the funniest, most heartwarming version of a show."

McConaughey highlighted the shift in perspective that allowed them to heighten their characters for TV.

"We need to not be afraid of leaning into more fictitious exaggerations of ourselves, not be afraid of playing slight parodies of certain expectations of ourselves, and with our relationships with each other and our families," said Matthew McConaughey, Actor. "So when we took the bridle off of sticking to what’s so great about the reality, I think that’s when we started to lean into just a little bit higher comedy."

Eisenberg noted that self-deprecation was an essential component for any celebrity playing a version of themselves.

"Whenever a celebrity is playing a version of themselves, I think the number one requirement is that you need to poke fun," said Lee Eisenberg, Showrunner. "And so they were great collaborators for that."

McConaughey previously described his late father's profound influence on his development into adulthood.

"Losing my father, like it is for many, was my most seminal rite of passage into manhood," said Matthew McConaughey, Actor.

Harrelson clarified at the Sarajevo Film Festival that the project differs significantly from their previous dramatic work together.

"If you like True Detective and you want more of that, it’s not this," said Woody Harrelson, Actor.

Harrelson shared how he initially processed the conversation with McConaughey's mother.

"I started ruminating on this and thought it would make a pretty cool show," said Woody Harrelson, Actor.

Harrelson also recounted how Jason Bateman joked during another production about his intense performance style.

"If you like True Detective and you want more of that, it's not this," said Woody Harrelson, Actor.

Reflecting on his return to Sarajevo nearly three decades after filming Welcome to Sarajevo, Harrelson remarked on the city's growth.

"It's alive and bustling," said Woody Harrelson, Actor. "It's incredible the metamorphosis from back then."

Harrelson also offered brief praise for director Jesse Eisenberg's latest movie project.

"She told me, ‘I knew your father,’ like, you know, with the ellipses, ‘I knew… your father,’" said Woody Harrelson, Actor.

Harrelson elaborated on his immediate reaction to the revelation during his interview with Variety.

"She tells me [that information], and I'm thinking, ‘Well, what's behind this story?’" said Woody Harrelson, Actor. "And then I find out they weren't just friends—there was a little more to it."

McConaughey detailed the moment his mother made the comment on a podcast, noting the specific pause she left.

"In Greece a few years ago, we're sitting around talking about how close we are and our families," said Matthew McConaughey, Actor. "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."

McConaughey further explained that historical dates aligned with the possibility of a past meeting in West Texas.

"[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," said Matthew McConaughey, Actor. "Then there's possible receipts and places out in West Texas where there might have been a gathering, or a meeting, or a ‘knew' moment."

Finally, McConaughey framed why taking a paternity test carries a much higher emotional weight for him than for Harrelson.

"Look, it's a little easier for Woody to say, ‘Come on, let's do [it],' because what's the skin in it for him?" said Matthew McConaughey, Actor. "It's a little harder for me because he's asking me to take a chance to go, ‘Wait a minute, you're 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."

Apple TV will release the first two episodes of Brothers on September 23, with subsequent episodes debuting weekly through November 4.