Matthew McConaughey may be in for yet another physical challenge after starring in 2013's "Dallas Buyer's Club," which saw him drop as much as 38 pounds to portray an AIDS patient. Reports have it that the Academy Award-winning actor will be playing a barefoot long-distance runner in the film adaptation of Christopher McDougall's bestselling book "Born to Run."
Will we be seeing Matthew plodding around town in his bare feet in preparation for this role?
"The book told the story of how an award-winning journalist and often-injured runner headed for Mexico's isolated, deadly Copper Canyons to find out how the blissful Tarahumara Indians honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury," Deadline explained. "He tags along to discover their secrets and takes readers from Harvard science labs to sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit."
"This led to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pitted America's best ultra-runners against the tribe," the site continued.
Sounds like the "Interstellar" actor has found yet another project he can sink his teeth in with much gusto, considering his penchant for physical activity. Will this earn him another acting nod?
"McConaughey is continuing to find projects that sway more toward the serious dramas like 'Mud' and 'Dallas Buyers Club' that have helped revitalized his career in recent years as opposed to the romantic comedies that helped him make a name for himself early on in his career," Variety observed.
Fans of the 2009 bestselling book, which "ignited the 'barefoot running movement,'" may be pleased to know an A-list star has been attached to the film project, which had been languishing in cinematic limbo for the last 2-3 years.
"The movie adaptation of 'Born to Run' appears to be stuck in Hollywood," Competitor said last year. "Originally, reports said actor/director Peter Sarsgaard would be directing the movie adaptation of 'Born to Run' and Jake Gylenhaal, his brother-in-law, was expected to play a lead role."
"However, McDougall said in 2013 a major shake-up occurred. A new script was expected to be completed last year, and a new director was supposed to be unveiled last summer, but the movie is still listed as being 'in development' on film industry websites," the site explained.
With Matthew involved in the project, it appears the project may indeed see the light of day.
WATCH:
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
