McConaughey returns to the bar in 'The Lincoln Lawyer'

'Surfer Dude' gets all serious again

By HitFix Staff Sunday, Mar 29, 2009 1:48 AM

Matthew McConaughey

Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Before Hollywood realized Matthew McConaughey was the world's oldest good looking frat boy, the industry mistakenly pegged him as a "serious" actor and he embarrassingly appeared out of depth in films such as "Contact," where he played a religious leader, and "A Time to Kill" and "Amistad" where he played a lawyer -- twice. After "Surfer Dude" that's pretty hard to fathom isn't it? Well, not according to Lakeshore Entertainment.

t;_self">Variety reports McConaughey will suit up as legal counsel once again in the thriller "The Lincoln Lawyer." Based on the 2005 Michael Connolly best-seller, the story finds a struggling criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller (McConaughey) who ends up representing a wealthy client who is connected to a previous murder case Haller was associated with.

No word on who will direct "Lawyer" or when Lakeshore expects to begin production.

McConaughey will return to theaters this May in the familiar and safe confines of the romantic comedy alongside Jennifer Garner in "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past."