EXCLUSIVE: After collaborating on one of the great TV characters of the 21st century, Matthew McConaughey and True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto have set their sights on another classic character to tackle. Sources tell Deadline that McConaughey is in talks to star in Skydance’s feature film based on the iconic Mike Hammer from a script by Pizzolatto.
Skydance acquired the rights to Mickey Spillane’s and Max Allan Collins’ Mike Hammer franchise with plans to develop and produce the bestselling book series into a feature film. Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger will produce along with Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady. Benjamin Forkner of Pendleton will also produce as will Ken F. Levin also will produce. Collins will executive produce with Jane Spillane serving as co-producer. Carin Sage will oversee the project for Skydance.
Hammer is the protagonist of a series of hardboiled detective novels, starting with 1947’s I, the Jury, becoming one of the most popular figures of the genre.
With more than 250 million copies of Mike Hammer books sold globally, it often is recognized as the most popular American mystery/thriller series of all time. Hammer is credited with inspiring numerous other characters including Dirty Harry, Jack Reacher and James Bond, who Ian Fleming famously referred to as “the British answer to Mike Hammer.”
McConaughey and Pizzolatto have teased a reunion for years following the success of season of True Detective, which earned both of them Emmy nominations. There had even been talks of the two reuniting along with fellow True Detective star Woody Harrelson for another season, but in recent weeks their attention zeroed in on the Mike Hammer movies after Pizzolatto got him the script. Hammer has all the makings of another character the two talents can blow out of the water, and now the project will look to land a high-profile director to take over the reins.
While McConaughey hasn’t starred in a live-action movie since 2019’s The Gentlemen — he did reprise his role in the animated pic Sing 2 in 2021 — the Oscar winner has a big 2025 ahead of him. His film The Rivals of Amziah King premiered at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and quickly became one of the big winners of the fest, earning rave reviews following its premiere. He has the Apple Original Films thriller The Lost Bus bowing later this year with Paul Greengrass directing. Apple recently released the teaser trailer, which drew huge buzz on social media with many expecting the film and McConaughey to be back in the mix among contenders this awards season.
He also is set to make his return to TV with the Apple and Skydance series Brothers, which reunites with Harrelson who is also set to star.
Pizzolatto’s recent work includes his first film as writer-director, Easy’s Waltz as well as multiple projects for Skydance and a television show in development with Netflix.
McConaughey is repped by WME and Yorn Levine Barns, and Pizzolatto is repped by WME, Gillett Management and Eric Brooks of Goodman Genow Schenkman.
