Woody Harrelson's Big 2026: A Sarajevo Honor, a Reunion With McConaughey, and Wanting to Direct Again

What did Sarajevo actually honor him for?

His "outstanding contribution to the film industry and an exceptional acting career," according to the festival, which also screened Michael Winterbottom's 1997 film Welcome to Sarajevo as part of the honor. Harrelson joins a genuinely accomplished list of recent recipients, including Stellan Skarsgård, Paolo Sorrentino, Meg Ryan, Alexander Payne, and Lynne Ramsay. Festival director Jovan Marjanović described him as "one of those actors you believe in even in the most improbable roles."

Why is his willingness to direct again such notable news?

Because his directorial debut, Lost in London, was a genuinely extreme creative gamble, the world's first feature film shot in a single continuous take and broadcast live to theaters as it happened. Harrelson has called it his toughest creative challenge to date, and nearly a decade of not returning to directing since suggests real, lasting hesitation about repeating that kind of pressure. Saying he's now open to directing another live film again is a real signal that whatever exhausted him about that first attempt has faded enough to consider trying again.

Is he also trying stand-up comedy now?

Yes, by his own account, taking what he's described as "baby steps" into stand-up specifically. That's a genuinely different discipline from scripted acting or directing, requiring him to develop and test material in a much more exposed, unscripted format than most of his career has involved.

What's the actual project reuniting him with Matthew McConaughey?

Brothers, an eight-episode Apple TV+ comedy series in which Harrelson and McConaughey play versions of themselves trying to live together on a Texas ranch, with their real-life friendship put to the test. Both actors also executive produce. It's their latest collaboration following past work together on EDtv, Surfer, Dude, and HBO's True Detective. The cast also includes Natalie Martinez, Holland Taylor, and Brittany Ishibashi, with Brothers set to release September 23, 2026.

What other projects does he have coming up?

A genuinely packed slate. He co-stars alongside Kristen Stewart in Full Phil, an absurdist Quentin Dupieux comedy that premiered at Cannes in May, playing an American industrialist attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter during a chaotic Paris trip. He's also been cast in The Cackling of the Dodos, a Netflix crime thriller directed by Jason Bateman and co-starring Sam Rockwell, currently in production. Beyond that, he's set to star alongside Olivia Colman in Girl from the North Country, Conor McPherson's musical drama adapted from the Broadway show.

How has he compared some of these newer projects to established filmmakers?

He's specifically drawn a comparison between Jason Bateman's The Cackling of the Dodos and the work of Martin McDonagh and the Coen Brothers, suggesting the crime thriller shares their specific blend of dark comedy and violence, a genuinely flattering comparison that signals real confidence in the project's tone.

Is this a particularly active stretch for him compared to recent years?

Genuinely yes, spanning film, television, and now stand-up simultaneously, alongside a major career honor. Between reuniting with a longtime collaborator, taking on a genuinely different type of creative risk with stand-up, and lining up multiple distinct projects across formats, this is a notably full period even by the standards of an actor with as long and varied a career as his.

Frequently asked questions

What award did Woody Harrelson receive at Sarajevo? The Honorary Heart of Sarajevo, recognizing his contribution to film and his acting career.

Is Woody Harrelson directing another film? He's said he's ready to direct another live, single-take film, nearly a decade after his debut, Lost in London.

What is Brothers, the show with Matthew McConaughey? An eight-episode Apple TV+ comedy in which the two play versions of themselves living together on a Texas ranch, releasing September 23, 2026.

What other new projects does Woody Harrelson have coming? Full Phil with Kristen Stewart, The Cackling of the Dodos with Sam Rockwell, and Girl from the North Country with Olivia Colman.

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