Matthew McConaughey is set to star in the future crime thriller The Rivals of Amziah King, directed by Andrew Patterson (The Vast of Night) and financed by Black Bear Pictures. Black Bear International will help sell the distribution rights in Cannes alongside Endeavor Group Holdings (WME) International, which will focus on US rights.

While plot details are currently being held secret, Black Bear’s crew and studio members have expressed their excitement about sharing the film with the rest of the world. A press release presents the film as a “deeply atmospheric, character-focused crime thriller set against the unique backdrop of remote Oklahoma,” with McConaughey as the lead role of the titular Amziah King.

Many of the film’s producers, including Black Bear founder Teddy Schwarzman and Heyday Films founder David Heyman, have given their full support and complimented the talent behind it. Schwarzman states that his company is “thrilled to partner with our friends at Heyday in supporting the bold creation” of this film, citing both “Andrew Patterson’s visionary filmmaking and Matthew McConaughey’s extraordinary talent” as essential factors for a compelling final product. Additionally, Heyman praises Patterson’s work in his directorial debut The Vast of Night, a science fiction mystery film about children investigating a mysterious audio frequency. To Heyman, Patterson’s vision displayed in Night clearly showed “that Andrew Patterson was a remarkable talent with a singular vision.”

“I am incredibly excited to be working with Andrew and to support him and Matthew as they bring Amziah to life and make what I believe will be an extraordinary film,” Heyman gushes.