The Post-True Detective Career of Matthew McConaughey
It’s no secret that True Detective helped revitalize McConaughey’s career. His role as Rust in the first season can now be used as an example of how expectations can be flipped in the right circumstances. But at the time it was unclear just what his newfound success as a dramatic actor would mean.
For one thing, he’s turned down returning to Magic Mike. Indiewire is reporting that McConaughey won’t be returning for the sequel. Instead, we’ll see him in the new Gus Van Sant film, Sea of Trees. Gus Van Sant is a beloved art house director, famous for directing My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, and Milk.
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McConaughey also has the lead in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Interstellar. It would appear that McConaughey is using True Detective as a springboard into serious dramatic acting, though it’s also important to remember his role in last year’s Dallas Buyers Club, which pre-dates his True Detective fame.
Matthew McConaughey has proved that he can be taken seriously as a dramatic actor, and the world is better for it. It’s impossible to say whether or not this is a permanent change, but it does seem like where he’s comfortable at the moment. In the future we might see similar changes from unexpected True Detective actors.
Perhaps even Jessica Biel?