First Look at Matthew McConaughey in "The Rivals of Amziah King"

The first image from the crime thriller "The Rivals of Amziah King," starring Matthew McConaughey, has surfaced online. The 55-year-old actor plays the owner of a honey production facility. The plot centers around his character's involvement in a fierce conflict with competitors in the "sweet" business.

In the photo, Matthew McConaughey is seen walking in a picturesque setting. He is accompanied by 20-year-old Angelina LookingGlass, a budding actress of Native American descent. McConaughey portrays Amziah King, the honey factory director, while LookingGlass plays his adopted daughter, Kateri.

According to World of Reel, "The Rivals of Amziah King" is set in Oklahoma. The story follows Amziah King, who runs the city's leading honey production enterprise. His business faces threats from rivals, and Amziah soon finds himself entangled in a ruthless "honey war." Simultaneously, he reconnects with his adopted daughter, Kateri, who had previously left the family home following her mother's death. Amziah becomes a mentor to Kateri, helping her navigate life's challenges and find her own path.

"The Rivals of Amziah King" marks Matthew McConaughey's first leading role in a film since "Serenity" and "The Gentlemen" in 2019. Although he did lend his voice to Cowboy Deadpool in the 2024 film "Deadpool & Wolverine." The thriller is directed and written by Andrew Patterson, marking his second project after "The Vast of Night" (2019). Patterson's debut film garnered an impressive 92% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, though it received a lower score of 66% from audiences.

"The Rivals of Amziah King" was filmed in 2023. The cast also includes Owen Teague ("It"), Kurt Russell ("The Thing"), Cole Sprouse ("Riverdale"), and Tony Revolori ("Servant").

The world premiere of "The Rivals of Amziah King" is set to take place at the SXSW Film Festival in March 2025.