LOS ANGELES – Woody Harrelson says he's ready to end the "Brothers" (streaming Sept. 23) mystery over whether he's related to best friend Matthew McConaughey. Like right away.
Speaking at the world premiere of their Apple TV show at Los Angeles' Hammer Museum on Thursday, Sept. 17, Harrelson, 65, even agreed to take a DNA test with McConaughey, 56, in the closest bathroom off the red carpet.
"I'm ready to do it now. We can cross swords in the bathroom," Harrelson tells USA TODAY, apparently believing that the DNA test would require a urine analysis.
Regardless of the methodology, McConaughey says he wouldn't take the DNA test, fearing the results would hurt Harrelson too much.
"Because if it's not true, my buddy here is gonna be upset," McConaughey
says. "I don't want that to happen."
"I would be very sad," Harrelson adds. "But I'm pretty sure it's true."
The whole "are we related?" debate is the crux of "Brothers." The series is based on a real-life familial rumor sparked by McConaughey’s mother, Mary Kathlene "Kay" McConaughey, who told Harrelson that she "knew" his father, convicted hitman Charles Harrelson, before Matthew was born. Apparently "knew" in the biblical sense. The bizarre family yarn has become an over-the-top Apple TV comedy series.
McConaughey and Harrelson play heightened versions of themselves in "Brothers" alongside Holland Taylor as McConaughey’s mother, known as "Ma Mac"; Natalie Martinez as his wife, Valentina; and Brittany Ishibashi as Harrelson’s wife, Joy.
The real "Ma Mac" McConaughey walked the "Brothers" premiere carpet meeting Taylor, who plays her in "Brothers." Matthew McConaughey said his mother was going to see the first two episodes of "Brothers" for the first time at the premiere.
"And whether she likes it or dislikes it, I guarantee you 100 percent, we are quite sure that she's going to say the one problem with the show is, 'I didn't get to play me,'" McConaughey says. "But Holland Taylor does a knockout job."
"I don't think 'Ma Mac' would have been into those 12-hour shooting days," Harrelson says.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Woody Harrelson yearns to 'cross swords' with McConaughey for 'Brothers' DNA test
