Matthew McConaughey Returns to Theaters as a Bluegrass-Playing Honey Tycoon in The Rivals of Amziah King.
Matthew McConaughey is officially back on the big screen — and in one of the most unusual roles of his career. The Oscar-winning actor stars in The Rivals of Amziah King, a gritty crime thriller set in the remote woodlands of Oklahoma, where music, family, and the cutthroat honey industry collide.
First trailer for ‘THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING’, starring Matthew McConaughey and Kurt Russell.
The crime thriller follows a man who oversees the top honey-making operation in town, but everything he has built is soon threatened.
In theaters on August 14. pic.twitter.com/Ss0jXp6nuS
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 11, 2026
A Honey Empire Under Threat
In the film, McConaughey plays Amziah King, a charismatic bluegrass musician and the owner of the region’s top honey-making operation. According to the official synopsis, Amziah leads a “bluegrass-playing band of misfits” while running his thriving — but increasingly vulnerable — business.
His world is shaken when his estranged foster daughter, played by rising star Angelina LookingGlass, unexpectedly returns. Amziah sees a chance to rebuild their relationship and create a true family enterprise. But the honey business, as it turns out, is far more ruthless than it sounds.
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Kurt Russell as a Dangerous Rival
The trailer teases a tense showdown between McConaughey and Kurt Russell, who appears either as a competing honey mogul or a lawman with his own agenda. Whatever his role, Russell’s character clearly poses a deadly threat to Amziah’s livelihood — and possibly his life.
The supporting cast includes:
- Cole Sprouse
- Tony Revolori
- Jake Horowitz
- Scott Shepherd
- Rob Morgan
- Angelina LookingGlass
Each brings a different energy to the film’s blend of rural noir, family drama, and offbeat humor.
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A Festival Favorite Before Its Wide Release
The Rivals of Amziah King is written and directed by Andrew Paterson, known for his atmospheric storytelling. The film premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival, where it received strong early reviews for its tone, performances, and unexpected genre mix.
This marks McConaughey’s first theatrical leading role since 2019’s The Gentlemen. His only live-action appearance since then was in Apple TV’s The Lost Bus (2025), which also featured his son, Levi.
Release Date
The film arrives in theaters August 14, 2025, positioning it as one of the summer’s most intriguing crime dramas.
