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Matthew McConaughey said alright, alright, alright to his son Leviβs acting debut.
But at first, the OscarΒ winner, 55, was hesitant to allow the 17-year-old, whom he shares with wife Camila Alves McConaughey, to audition for a part in his new film, βThe Lost Bus.β
The true story dramaβs world premiere kicked off at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday. McConaughey was accompanied by his mom, Kay, 93, Levi, and Alves, 42, on the red carpet. Kay also has a part in the film.
βI had no idea that this young man, my son, was interested [in acting],β McConaughey revealed during a Q&A following the screening, βbut when I pitched the script to the family, as I always do before work, the part about Kevin [McKay] having a son, he asked me one day, βWell, how old is he?β I said, βHeβs about your age.β And then he goes, βThinkΒ I could read for it?β And I didnβt say anything. That wasnβt enough to make me say βmaybeβ or anything.β
Levi was persistant and continued to ask his dad about the role.
McConaughey explained, βHe came back four more times and I said, βOkay, now heβs working for it, for the idea.β And I said, βYeah.β I knew they hadnβt cast the part. Pulled out the camera, worked with him on a scene, and sent that to [casting director] Francine Maisler, and I said β remember I had a note? β I said, βI think it might beΒ good enough for a callback.β And she wrote back, βI think it might be good enough to show to Paul.’β
The βInterstellarβ star had one request before director Paul Greengrass got his hands on the footage.
McConaughey recalled telling Maisler, βWhen you do that, will you do me one favor? Will you pull the last name off so itβs just, thereβs no McConaughey on the end of that?β
βShe said yes,β the Texas native shared. βNext call I got, [Paul] said, he goes, βThatβs the guy, thatβs the son.β And then he was told, βWell, that happens to be Matthewβs son.β And in Paul fashion, he was like, βEven better!β β¦ So this is all due to Paul. My familyβs in this film because of this man to the left.β
TheΒ movie is based on true events from the 2018 Camp Fire in the town of Paradise. The wildfire still remains one of the deadliest in Californiaβs history.Β Jamie Lee Curtis serves as a producer, while the rest of the star-studded cast includes America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson and Spencer Watson.
According to a synopsis, McConaughey stars as a schoolΒ busΒ driver who, alongside a dedicated school teacher (Ferrera), βbattle to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno.β
βI never want films to be bleak,β Greengrass, 70, toldΒ Vanity Fair in July. βIβve made films about difficult subjects, but I always want them to be life-affirming and drive towards hope. Because otherwise, whatβs the point?β
Adding about McConaugheyβs role in the project: βWhat I like about Matthew particularly is heβs a leading man, a movie star and a character actor all in one. And he has a particular understanding of those kinds of communities, blue-collar communities.β
Along with Levi, McConaughey and Alves, who tied the knot in 2012, are also parents to Vida, 15, and Livingston, 12.
McConaughey and his family, meanwhile, relocated to TexasΒ during the height of his career.
The βDazed and Confusedβ actor, his wife and three children packed up and moved to the Lone Star State in 2014.
Last year, McConaughey explained why he settled in Texas.
βLook, man, the devilβs in the infinite yeses, not the nos,β the star revealed on theΒ βGood Trouble With Nick Kyrgiosβ podcast. βNo, itβs just as important, if not more important,β McConaughey said. βEspecially if you have some level of success and access. No becomes more important than yes.βΒ
βI mean, we all look around and see weβve over-leveraged our life with yeses and go, βGeez, oh, man, Iβm making C minuses and all that sβt in my life because I said yes to too many things.β I have many times in my life where Iβm going through autopilot,β McConaughey added.
Before their move, McConaughey and Alves lived in Malibu, California.
At the time, the Hollywood icon was known for a slew of rom-coms, includingΒ βHow to Lose A Guy in 10 Days,βΒ βThe Wedding Planner,β βFailure to Launchβ and βFoolβs Gold.β
βThat was my lane, and I liked that lane,β admitted McConaughey. βThat lane paid well and it was working. But the lane wasβ¦ I was so strong in that lane that anything outside of that lane, dramas and stuff that I wanted to do, were like, βNo, no, no, no, no McConaughey.β Hollywood said βNo, no, no, no, you should stay there, stay there.ββ
Which led to a new journey for the party of five.
Once in Texas, McConaughey told his partner that he would only return to California if he were βoffered roles I want to do.β
βLuckily, Camila got pregnant with our first child. So there was purpose coming to look forward to,β he reminisced. βBut I was still like, βManβs gotta work.β Making chimes and working in the garden wasnβt cutting it.β
βThe Lost BusβΒ hits theaters Sept. 19, and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ Oct. 3.