Fresh off his first Oscar nomination for his devastating performance in “Dallas Buyers Club,” Matthew McConaughey has signed on to star opposite Ken Watanabe in Gus Van Sant’s drama “Sea of Trees,” an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.
Chris Sparling (“Buried”) wrote the script, which was voted to the 2013 Black List.
Story follows an American man (McConaughey) who takes a journey into the infamous “Suicide Forest” at the foothills of Mount Fuji with the intention of taking his own life. When he is interrupted by a Japanese man (Watanabe) who has had second thoughts about his own suicide, and is trying to find his way out of the forest, the two begin a journey of reflection and survival.
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Gil Netter (“Life of Pi”) is producing the movie, which is gearing up to start production shortly.
Both McConaughey and Watanabe are veterans of Christopher Nolan movies, as the former recently wrapped “Interstellar,” while the latter actor co-starred in “Inception.” Neither has worked with Van Sant before.
“Sea of Trees” will serve as Van Sant’s next film, as he last directed the Matt Damon-John Krasinski drama “Promised Land.”
McConaughey, who is currently earning rave reviews for his turn in HBO’s “True Detective,” can also be seen as hotshot stockbroker Mark Hanna in Martin Scorsese‘s “The Wolf of Wall Street.” The actor, who recently won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for “Dallas Buyers Club,” is represented by CAA.