The “McConassaince” may have ended five or so years ago, but Matthew McConaughey remains a highly bankable movie star. But he hasn’t starred in anything recently, at least not since “The Gentlemen” and Harmony Korine‘s “The Beach Bum” in 2019. Now fans of his will have to wait a little longer for his onscreen return, as his upcoming film, “Dallas Sting,” has been canceled.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Skydance scraps the feel-good soccer drama only six weeks before starting production, with the movie almost entirely cast. The film told the true story of a Dallas girl’s soccer team that defied the odds to travel to China in 1984 for a tournament, beating some of the best women’s teams in the world. McConaughey would have played coach Bill Kinder, who led the Sting to become the first American soccer team, male or female, to win a major international tournament.
So, what prompted the film’s cancellation? Sources say that Skydance scrapped the movie due to disturbing allegations surrounding aspects of the true story. An investigation into those improprieties turned up damning evidence, and the producers swiftly shelved the film. Skydance and Berlanti Schecter Productions declined to comment on the matter.
Who would have joined McConaughey in the film if “Dallas Sting” went into production? For one, “Dopesick” and “Ticket To Paradise” star Kaitlyn Dever was cast to play Kinder’s daughter. Skydance also did an extensive audition process to fill out the rest of the girls’ team. “The Falcon And The Winter Soldier” director Kari Skogland was on board to direct the film. In addition, “GLOW” creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch penned the film’s script.
Abandoning a project before production isn’t unheard of, but canceling a film six weeks before production is unprecedented. Skydance must have uncovered disturbing info in their follow-up to the allegations they heard about. That’s one of the risks of adapting true-life stories to the big screen, though. But rest assured that Matthew McConaughey will sign on to another project soon.