Matthew McConaughey‘s had a quiet last couple of years in acting. Sure, he led the ensemble cast in Guy Ritchie‘s 2019 film “The Gentlemen,” but outside of “Sing 2,” where he did only voice work, he hasn’t done another movie since. So, a new project with McConaughey is big news and no surprise for the actor, it’s a hometown Texas tale.
Deadline reports that McConaughey will star in “Dallas Sting,” based on a true story about a high school girl’s soccer team who headed to China in 1984 and, against all odds, beat some of the best women’s teams from around the world. “The Falcon And The Winter Soldier” director Kari Skogland is attached to direct the film, with Skydance and Berlanti Schechter Productions to develop. Apple also has first dibs on the film thanks to its overall deal with Skydance, so expect “Dallas Sting” to get released through Apple Original Films.
Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, the team behind Netflix‘s female wrestling series “GLOW,” pen the movie’s script. McConaughey plays Bill Kinder, the coach who leads a group of Texas teens onto Rocky-like glory long before the U.S. Women’s national team achieved Olympic and World Cup dominance. After President Reagan announced a concert effort to open relations with China in 1984, China invited the US to the inaugural women’s soccer world championship there in 1984. A nationwide search led to the discovery of The Dallas Sting, coached by Kinder and named after the 1973 film with Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
Kinder, who had no prior coaching experience before forming the team, fought against overwhelming odds to get the girls to China for the tournament. He charged $85,000 on his credit credits in non-refundable tickets to ensure the team could travel. His commitment paid off as the Sting scored miraculous upsets against more experienced squads from China, Australia, and Italy, becoming worldwide sensations in the process.
So, a women’s soccer version of “Miracle” with McConaughey as the over-dedicated, against-all-odds, hard-nosed coach? Sounds good to us.