Matthew McConaughey to Star in 'The Urban Planner'

Coming soon to theaters near you: Academy Award Winner Matthew McConaughey portrays an upstart urban planner who learns to throw away the old code and embrace uncertainty.

1 minute read

April 1, 2015, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Matthew McConaughey

Helga Esteb / Shutterstock

With his career still basking in the glory of the recent "McConaissance," Hollywood star and notorious bohemian type Matthew McConaughey has signed on with a new film called The Urban Planner.

The film is inspired by the success of the Broadway musical If/Then, based in part on the life and work of former New York City Planning Director Amanda Burden.

According to insiders close to the project, McConaughey will play an urban planner stuck in a mid-career rut who uncovers proof of a vast international conspiracy involving property rights and the United Nations. Also he falls in love.

The role will in no way reprise the character played by McConaughey in The Wedding Planner opposite Jennifer Lopez. According to McConaughey's press representation: "We can all agree that was a vapid and soul-destroying film."

Wednesday, April 1, 2015 in Planetizen April 1st Edition

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Close-up of rear car bumper in traffic on freeway.

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving

A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

March 23, 2025 - Road Capacity as a Fundamental Determinant of Vehicle Travel

Aerial view of Grants Pass, Oregon with fall foliage and hills in background with a cloudy sky.

Judge Halts Enforcement of Anti-Homeless Laws in Grants Pass

The Oregon city will be barred from enforcing two ordinances that prosecute unhoused residents until it increases capacity and accessibility at designated camping sites.

March 31 - Street Roots

Colorful murals on exterior of Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California against night sky.

Advancing Sustainability in Los Angeles County Schools

The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Green Schools Symposium brings together educators, students, and experts to advance sustainability in schools through innovative design, climate resilience strategies, and collaborative learning.

March 31 - Los Angeles County Office of Education

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31 - Pennsylvania State University