Why Matthew McConaughey is convinced Woody Harrelson is his real brother following bizarre story his mum told him

Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey being brothers may sound like the beginnings of a Hollywood comedy, but it turns out there might be substance to the bizarre theory.

It all started when McConaughey revealed his mother had once told Harrelson she ‘knew’ his father – with a bit of a wink and a nudge - telling the Let's Talk Off Camera podcast: "In Greece a few years ago, we’re sitting around talking about how close we are and our families.

"And my mom is there, and she says, 'Woody, I knew your dad'. Everyone was aware of the ellipses that my mom left after ‘knew’.

"It was a loaded K-N-E-W."

He continued: "We went on to unpack what this ‘knew’ meant and did some math and found out that [Woody Harrelson's] dad was on furlough at the same time that my mom and dad were in their second divorce.

McConaughey's mum admitted she 'knew' Harrelson's father (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

“Then there’s possible receipts and places out in West Texas where there might have been a gathering, or a meeting, or a ‘knew’ moment."

Harrelson later confirmed to Esquire that rumours they could be brothers was more than just internet hearsay, admitting it’s something he’d ‘felt’ for years.

“Well, it’s very much true,” he said in an interview with Esquire.

“I learned from Ma Mac, Matthew’s mother, that she did have a relationship with my father for a relatively short period of time that coincided with the time that his father and mother were on a sabbatical, and with the time of Matthew’s, let’s say, origination. We haven’t done a test, but there are too many times that I think to myself, My God, the similarities! The things he does, the things he says - just the way he is. I’ve felt that for years.”

But while Harrelson was all on board with getting a DNA test to find out once and for all, McConaughey had his reservations.

The pair in 1999 (John Anderson/Getty Images)

In an interview with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Natural Born Killers star explained: "We want to go for a [DNA] test, but for [McConaughey], it’s a much more [of a] big deal.

"I mean he feels like he is losing a father. But I’m like, no, you’re gaining a different father and a brother."

However, it now sounds like he’s warming to the idea.

Last month, Harrelson told Johnny Vaughan on Radio X: "Well, we haven't done the DNA test, but we're probably going to do that. I think there's a real possibility."

Thankfully, they’ve already got the means to do the DNA test, too, as legendary talk show host Maury Povich previously offered to do the honours.

We are all SO invested...