DESCRIPTION: The leader of the Newton Boys and mastermind of every robbery. A confident, smooth talking professional who intended to invest his share of the loot in the Texas oil boom. When the oil well turns up dry, he plans the largest robbery in U.S. history. Matthew McConaughey came aboard to play Willis Newton, a role he tackled with his characteristic enthusiasm. "THE NEWTON BOYS is a great rags-to-riches story," he relates.

McConaughey also appreciated the film's vivid Texas locations as well as the opportunity to reunite with his "Dazed and Confused" director. "I felt a connection to the location because the Newtons were from my hometown of Uvalde, Texas" says McConaughey. "And it is great to work with Rick again." McConaughey, who joined the production immediately after completing work in Steven Spielberg's "Amistad," further reflects on his character and motivations: "This is not a typical western. I liked the fact that the brothers were both Texan gentlemen and wild outlaws. Willis Newton made up his mind that it was okay to rob banks because he wasn't taking the people's money. The banks were insured ­ and the insurance companies were the biggest crooks of them all. So in his mind, everything was alright and he never looked back on that notion."