Matthew McConaughey said he concealed his son Levi’s surname when the 17-year-old auditioned for a role in the actor’s new film, "The Lost Bus," telling audiences the decision was meant to avoid any appearance of favoritism.
The disclosure came during a question-and-answer session following the film’s world premiere Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival, where McConaughey, 55, attended with his mother, Kay, 93, his wife Camila Alves McConaughey, 42, and Levi.
McConaughey described how he first learned of his son’s interest in acting when he discussed the script at home. "I had no idea that this young man, my son, was interested [in acting]," he said. When McConaughey mentioned that his character, Kevin McKay, had a son of about the same age, his son asked, "Think I could read for it?" The actor recounted that Levi persisted after the initial request.
To ensure the audition was judged on its own merits, McConaughey said he did not identify Levi by their family name when arranging the reading with the film’s director. He later confirmed that the audition led to Levi’s casting, marking the teenager’s acting debut.
The elder McConaughey has a history of sharing scripts with his family before production begins, a practice he said he continued with "The Lost Bus." Kay McConaughey also appears in the film; the premiere drew the three-generation entourage to the red carpet.
"The Lost Bus," a true-story drama, had its first public screening at TIFF on Friday. The film centers on Kevin McKay, the role played by McConaughey, and incorporates family dynamics that include a teenage son — the part Levi portrayed. The premiere at Toronto is the film’s first major festival debut as it moves toward wider release.
McConaughey, who has previously spoken about balancing work and family, framed Levi’s participation as part of a natural curiosity and persistence on the younger man’s part. He used a familiar phrase to acknowledge the moment, noting the family was on hand to support Levi as he made his screen debut.
The screening and Q&A offered the director and cast a first audience response ahead of the film’s distribution plans. Festival appearances often serve as a platform for films to secure broader theatrical or streaming deals; the Toronto premiere provides a gateway for critical and industry appraisal before a general-release timetable is announced.