'The Gentlemen' stars Matthew McConaughey and Hugh Grant are finally working on a romcom together (exclusive)

Tom Beasley
·Contributor

They’re both known for being masters of the romcom, but Matthew McConaughey and Hugh Grant are about to join forces for what will probably be the Avengers: Endgame of the genre.

The two stars have largely stepped away from the romcom world in recent years, but that looks set to change.

In an interview to promote Guy Ritchie’s new crime thriller The Gentlemen, McConaughey tells Yahoo Movies UK that he and Grant are working on a romcom project.

Read more: Mark Kermode shares three romcoms everyone should watch

McConaughey says: “[Hugh] was king of romcoms for years and then I got the baton and quite enjoyed it.

“Now, we've got an idea for another one... the next romcom, to finally do something together.

“Because we didn't do anything together in this film. We don't have any scenes together.”

Hugh Grant and Matthew McConaughey were romcom stalwarts in the 1990s and 2000s. (Credit: PolyGram/Paramount)
Hugh Grant and Matthew McConaughey were romcom stalwarts in the 1990s and 2000s. (Credit: PolyGram/Paramount)

When asked for more details, the actor says “something’s brewing” with him and Grant and adds that The Gentlemen co-star Charlie Hunnam is writing the movie.

Read more: Hugh Grant complains after bad cinema experience

Hunnam has often spoken about his desire to move into writing and directing and has numerous film projects in development, including one about the life of Vlad the Impaler.

Michelle Dockery and Matthew McConaughey in 'The Gentlemen'. (Credit: EFD)
Michelle Dockery and Matthew McConaughey in 'The Gentlemen'. (Credit: EFD)

Grant has previously spoken of having become “too old and too ugly” to take on romcom roles and recently called a Love Actually scene one of the most excruciating experiences he has ever had.

McConaughey has largely avoided the genre since 2009’s Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, having become notorious for leaning on his co-stars on posters for movies including Failure to Launch.

Read more: Watch the trailer for The Gentlemen

In The Gentlemen, McConaughey plays American expat drug kingpin Mickey Pearson, who sparks a rush for power when rumours spread that he is stepping down.

Grant, meanwhile, plays the slimy private investigator who has unearthed the story and is hoping to extort money from Mickey’s right-hand man, portrayed by Hunnam.

Hugh Grant in 'The Gentlemen'. (Credit: EFD)
Hugh Grant in 'The Gentlemen'. (Credit: EFD)

It marks Guy Ritchie’s return to the gangster genre, years after he made classics Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.

Earlier this year, he had a billion-dollar hit for Disney with Aladdin, which also became the biggest film in the career of star Will Smith.

Read more: Aladdin producer discusses sequel possibilities

Its success marked Ritchie bouncing back from the critical and commercial disappointment of his sword-wielding flop King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

The Gentlemen is in cinemas from 1 January, 2020.