Brothers is out, and McConaughey and Harrelson might really be related
Apple TV's new comedy turns the actors' real family mystery into a show. The first two episodes dropped today.
Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey at the 2014 Emmy Awards. Photo via Voice of America and Wikimedia Commons
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have been joking for years that they might actually be brothers. Now Apple made a whole show about it.
Brothers premiered today on Apple TV with the first two episodes. The other six drop every Wednesday until the finale on November 4.
What the show is about
McConaughey and Harrelson play made-up versions of themselves. Harrelson brings his family to McConaughey's ranch in Austin, and McConaughey's mom lets a secret slip. It turns out the two best friends might share a dad.
On top of that, TV McConaughey is thinking about running for governor of Texas. So he has a lot going on.
Holland Taylor, Natalie Martinez and Brittany Ishibashi are also in the cast. The showrunner is Lee Eisenberg, who wrote for The Office and made Jury Duty.
The real story behind it
This part is not made up. Back in 2023, McConaughey said his mom knew Harrelson's dad, Charles, during a time when his parents were split up. They may have been in the same part of West Texas at the same time.
Neither actor has ever put out DNA results, so nobody knows for sure. Harrelson doesn't seem to care either way. “He's more my brother than my brothers,” he said.
The two have been close since True Detective in 2014, and Apple ordered this show back in 2023. It had a rough road getting here. Production stopped in June 2025 after the original showrunner, David West Read, left over creative differences. Eisenberg stepped in after that.
So is it good?
Early reviews are not great. Texas Monthly called it a hangout comedy without the comedy and flat out told readers to skip it. Their main complaint is that the show leans on the two stars being charming instead of writing real jokes.
That's only one review though, and the two of them together is still a big draw. Episode 3 comes out next Wednesday, September 30. That will show if the show can find its jokes or if it just rides on the friendship.