Golden Globe winner Keri Russell (“The Americans”) and Mahershala Ali (“House of Cards”) will join Matthew McConaughey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Gary Ross’ Civil War movie “The Free State of Jones,” TheWrap has learned.
“Free State of Jones” is a historical action epic based on the true story of defiant Southern farmer Newt Knight (McConaughey) and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Russell is set to play Knight’s wife, Serena, while Ali will play Moses Washington, an escaped slave who becomes an integral ally of Knight’s rebellion against and secession from the Confederacy.
Robert Simonds’ new film and television studio STX Entertainment is producing “Free State of Jones,” which Route One/Union Investment Partners and Vendian Entertainment are co-financing. IM Global will oversee international distribution.
Scott Stuber and Jon Kilik are producing the flm with Ross, who is directing from his own screenplay. Production is currently under way in Louisiana.
Russell, who won a Golden Globe for “Felicity,” currently stars on FX’s critically acclaimed spy series “The Americans.” She recently starred opposite Jason Clarke in “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”
Ali plays Remy Danton on Netflix’s “House of Cards” as well as Boggs in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” movies. His other feature credits include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “The Place Beyond the Pines.”
Russell is represented by WME, the Burstein Company and attorney Robert Offer, while Ali is repped by WME and Anonymous Content and attorney Shelby Weiser.
The Evolution of Matthew McConaughey: From Wooderson to 'Beach Bum' (Photos)
Matthew McConaughey is the perfect case study for an actor who has evolved over his career. He burst onto the scene with a personality defining role that would've made him iconic if he never made another film. Then he became one of the biggest movie stars and sex symbols in the world before falling off a cliff and reinventing himself as a serious, introspective actor who could seemingly handle anything. Here's how the Texas-born charmer has not just evolved, but just kept livin'.
"Dazed and Confused" (1993)
Matthew McConaughey's first role was as Wooderson in Richard Linklater's cult hit "Dazed and Confused," and there are few performances that have announced a career and an actor's persona so well. Among other memorable lines, McConaughey utters for the first time "Alright, alright, alright," and the catch phrase has followed him ever since.
Gramercy
"A Time to Kill" (1996)
In the film adaptation of John Grisham's novel, McConaughey in one of his first leading roles plays a lawyer fighting for justice in the midst of a racist town.
Warner Bros.
"Contact" (1997)
McConaughey played both romantic and brainy as the scientist love interest to Jodie Foster in Robert Zemeckis' sci-fi.
Warner Bros.
"The Newton Boys" (1998)
McConaughey reunited with Linklater for this crime movie that paired him with Ethan Hawke, Skeet Ulrich and Vincent D'Onofrio.
20th Century Fox
"The Wedding Planner" (2001)
McConaughey kicked off his stint as a bankable romantic comedy actor with "The Wedding Planner" opposite Jennifer Lopez.
Sony
"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (2003)
McConaughey and Kate Hudson play characters with opposite agendas in the 2003 romantic comedy that became a massive box office hit in 2003.
Paramount
People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive (2005)
McConaughey might've hit the peak of his fame as a Hollywood A-lister in 2005 when he was named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. That same year, he starred in the adventure flop "Sahara," which grossed only $119 million worldwide on a $130 million budget.
Getty Images
"Failure to Launch" (2006)
Sarah Jessica Parker plays a love expert determined to get McConaughey out of his parent's house and into the real world in yet another successful rom-com.
Paramount
"We Are Marshall" (2006)
In a more serious role, McConaughey appears as the head football coach of Marshall University, attempting to rebuild the their program after a crippling plane crash that kills the majority of the team and coaching staff.
Warner Bros.
"Fool's Gold" (2008)
Hudson and McConaughey reunited as a recently divorced couple on an adventure to find lost treasure. But no matter how many times McConaughey was seen with his shirt off, he netted some of the worst reviews of his career, with the movie getting just an 11 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Warner Bros.
"Tropic Thunder" (2008)
An almost unrecognizable Tom Cruise had the real scene-stealing moments in "Tropic Thunder," but McConaughey (and Ben Stiller) showed a new side to himself.
DreamWorks
"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" (2009)
In this weird reimagining of "A Christmas Carol," McConaughey plays a womanizer who reacquaints with his childhood crush (Jennifer Garner) after being haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends. Shortly after this bomb, McConaughey would take a two-year hiatus and return a different actor.
Warner Bros.
"The Lincoln Lawyer" (2011)
Moving away from comedy, McConaughey returns as a criminal defense lawyer in the film adaptation of Michael Connelly's novel of the same name. Believe it or not, this movie would have nothing to do with McConaughey's eventual long streak doing commercials for Lincoln cars.
Lionsgate
"Bernie" (2011)
McConaughey reunited with Linklater once again in "Bernie," but he gives a challenging, unlikable role as a Texas prosecutor with an axe to grind against Jack Black's often charming title character.
Millennium Entertainment
"Killer Joe" (2011)
During this time, people started uttering the word "McConaissance," as he went on a tear of daring performances in indies. And nothing was more left field than his ruthless, frenzied turn in William Friedkin's bloody "Killer Joe."
LD Entertainment
"Magic Mike" (2012)
In a year that also included the polarizing "The Paperboy" and the critical darling "Mud," Steven Soderbergh's "Magic Mike" was peak McConainssance, starring McConaughey as a veteran strip club owner. It didn't hurt that he went shirtless again. "The law says you cannot touch, but I see a lotta lawbreakers here tonight."
Warner Bros.
"Dallas Buyers Club" (2013)
Losing a shocking amount of weight for the film, McConaughey plays a homophobic man diagnosed with HIV, who turns to smuggling anti-viral meds into the U.S. His impressive turn won him an Oscar.
Focus Features
"True Detective" (2014)
McConaughey picked a good time to turn to TV, pairing with Woody Harrelson for the gritty HBO drama "True Detective." McConaughey played Rust Cohle across multiple time periods, allowing him to flex his range as a more action-oriented star and a character obsessed with the mystical and philosophical.
HBO
"Interstellar" (2014)
After winning his Oscar, McConaughey got the chance to turn back to blockbusters, starring in Christopher Nolan's spiritual sci-fi epic "Interstellar."
Warner Bros.
"Gold" (2016)
After losing 38 pounds for "Dallas Buyers Club," McConaughey put on 47 pounds to play a sleazy businessman and explorer in "Gold."
The Weinstein Company
"Serenity" (2019)
McConaughey re-teamed with his "Interstellar" co-star Anne Hathaway for Steven Knight's twisty drama "Serenity."
Aviron Pictures
"The Beach Bum" (2019)
McConaughey's next role might be his oddest yet, starring as a slacker in "The Beach Bum," Harmony Korine's follow-up to "Spring Breakers."
Neon
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Texas-born actor went from rom-com star to the McConaissance
Matthew McConaughey is the perfect case study for an actor who has evolved over his career. He burst onto the scene with a personality defining role that would've made him iconic if he never made another film. Then he became one of the biggest movie stars and sex symbols in the world before falling off a cliff and reinventing himself as a serious, introspective actor who could seemingly handle anything. Here's how the Texas-born charmer has not just evolved, but just kept livin'.
Gramercy
