Matthew McConaughey is set to star in Paul Greengrass’ “The Rage,” a peasant revolt epic. Greengrass wrote the film which will be shopped around to buyers at EFM Berlin. McConaughey replaces the originally attached Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role.
“The Rage” takes place during the Peasants’ Revolt, a major uprising that took part across large parts of England in 1381 in response socio-economic and political tensions and high taxation.
McConaughey has been cast in the role of a farmer who becomes the leader of the revolt which might be based on real-life revolter Wat Tyler, who led the uprising before being killed by forces loyal to King Richard.
McConaughey doing an accent from the 14th century is something I have to see. Will he pull it off? He recently completed filming Greengrass’ upcoming wildfire drama “The Lost Bus” which should be coming out next year. McConaughey’s first film in six years, “The Rivals of Amziah King,” will premiere at SXSW in March.
The McConaissance, as it was referred to at the time, had McConaughey starring in one critically acclaimed film after another, separating the actor from his previous fluffy romcom roots. From 2011 to 2014, McConaughey starred in “The Lincoln Lawyer,” “Bernie,” “Killer Joe,” “Mud,” “Magic Mike,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and “Interstellar.”
As for Greengrass, his last film, “News of the World,” starring Tom Hanks, was released five years ago during the pandemic, and it received good reviews, but nowhere near the accolades the filmmaker was used to getting. Ditto “July 22,” which premiered at Venice 2018, and was politely received by critics.
Greengrass’ made the use of handheld camera “hip” in Hollywood with his 'Bourne' movies and, for that reason alone, he should definitely be put on a list of the most influential filmmakers of the 21st century. His very best work —"Captain Phillips," "United 93," "Blood Sunday”—are these heroic stories of unimaginable horror mixed with edge of your seat thrills. “The Rage” seems to fit into that criteria.