After starring in a string of some successful - and not so successful - romantic comedies during the early-mid 2000s, Matthew McConaughey became known as a hunky piece of eye candy, but was often criticized for not having the acting chops to take on meatier roles. However, that has all changed in the past few years, as McConaughey has turned in praise-worthy performances in films such as The Lincoln Lawyer, Magic Mike and William Friedkin's twisted Texas hitman tale, Killer Joe.

Those performances have also caught the attention of some of today's most gifted and respected filmmakers - including Christopher Nolan, who offered McConaughey the lead role in his upcoming sci-fi film, Interstellar. Apparently, McConaughey didn't have to sit on the offer long, as we are now learning that he is confirmed for the part.

McConaughey made the announcement himself while speaking with The StarTribune, saying "I'm confirmed" and that a deal to star in the film has been finalized. There aren't any available details on his character yet, but considering how quickly McConaughey jumped on board - and keeping Nolan's track record in mind - we can bet that he has a layered character that requires an actor with range and balance.

As mentioned previously, McConaughey has proven to have plenty of both in his last few films. Though he hasn't done much, if any, work in the sci-fi genre since Contact in 1997, his acting and role choices have been solid enough that he's built some trust in audiences, as well as critics.

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From what we know about the film so far, McConaughey will likely have an intriguing, original and enthralling universe to play in. Based on an original screenplay by Nolan's brother Jonathan, Interstellar will deal with time travel and alternate dimensions, while centering on a group of explorers who travel through a wormhole. Of course, these elements and the idea of alternate realities will likely have Nolan fans drawing plenty of comparisons to his other popular and acclaimed mind-bender, Inception.

Nolan has spent the last few months rewriting the script to incorporate some original ideas as well, so we can expect another ambitious, yet hopefully rewarding effort from the British filmmaker. At the very least, Interstellar will likely reach for the stars and with Nolan at the helm, it could certainly be a journey worth taking.

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Interstellar is scheduled for a November 7, 2014 release.

Source: The StarTribune