Matthew McConaughey & Woody Harrelson’s Brothers Apple Series Pauses Production, Lee Eisenberg In Talks To Join As New Showrunner

EXCLUSIVE: Filming has been suspended on Apple TV+’s untitled brothers comedy series from Skydance Television starring and executive produced by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, Deadline has learned. According to sources, production in Austin, TX was paused late last week, with the cast, which includes fellow stars Holland Taylor, Natalie Martinez and Brittany Ishibashi, sent home.

The development, which involves the departure of showrunner David West Read, comes as eight of the series’ 10 ordered episodes have been shot. Veteran comedy showrunner Lee Eisenberg (Jury Duty, Little America), who most recently created and executive produced Apple TV+’s acclaimed limited series Lessons In Chemistry, is in negotiations to come on board as showrunner for the last two episodes and likely reshoots, I hear.

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The change is being made amid differing views over how to end the season, sources said. The makeup of the brothers comedy series is unusual — its stars/executive producers McConaughey and Harrelson are real stakeholders as the project is loosely inspired by their real-life longtime friendship.

The untitled brothers series stars Harrelson and McConaughey in a heartfelt, odd couple love story revolving around their strange and beautiful bond. Matthew and Woody’s friendship is tested when their combined families attempt to live together on Matthew’s ranch in Texas.

The cast also includes series regulars Oona Yaffe, Highdee Kuan, Nolan Almeida, Ella Grace Helton and Noah Carganilla.

Skydance Television is producing the series for Apple TV+. West Read, McConaughey and Harrelson executive produce alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Matt Thunell for Skydance Television and Bill Bost and Jeremy Plager.

There is no return to production date set yet as the new showrunner is expected to take some time to tweak the series’ creative direction. Reps for Apple TV+ and Skydance TV declined comment.

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