Timothée Chalamet Teases Matthew McConaughey About Close Moment with Austin Butler That Bordered on Kissing
Timothée Chalamet and Matthew McConaughey recently reminded the world that their bond, which began over a decade ago on the set of Interstellar, is still as strong, and as hilariously awkward—as ever. During a special town hall event hosted by Variety and CNN at the University of Texas at Austin, the two actors sat down for a candid discussion that quickly veered into the territory of personal space and “alpha” energy.
The conversation took a comedic turn when an audience member, Jacob Gonzalez, asked which of the two stars possesses the weirder daily routine. Chalamet wasted no time pointing the finger at McConaughey, though the elder actor countered by noting that Timothée always seems to admire his scent.
He says I always smell good, McConaughey quipped, to which Chalamet enthusiastically agreed, noting that the Oscar winner smells amazing. The praise for McConaughey’s scent led Chalamet into a vivid description of what he perceives as a specific kind of intensity shared by men like Matthew and Austin Butler.
Matthew and Austin could talk to you two inches closer than you’re normally used to someone talking to you — but they both do it, Chalamet explained, recounting a clip he had seen of the two actors interacting. He described a mental “tug-of-war” where each man kept leaning in closer to the other, nearly reaching a breaking point.
I was like, “They’re gonna do it! They’re gonna kiss!”, Chalamet joked, expressing a mix of awe and amusement at the display of high-octane charisma. He admitted that he lacks that particular brand of “alpha” presence, noting that if he tried to talk to someone at that range, the reaction would be far less welcoming.
Timothée Chalamet tells Matthew McConaughey that he thought he and Austin Butler were going to kiss, given how close they were to each other:
— Emir Han (@RealEmirHan) February 21, 2026
“I saw Austin get closer to Matthew and then Matthew gets closer to Austin. I was like, ‘They’re gonna do it!’
pic.twitter.com/0ZMGWXhLlC
If I was talking to you [that close], you’d be like, “Yo, get the f*** away from me,” he admitted with a laugh. The lighthearted moment highlighted the generational gap and the mutual respect between the two stars, who first met when Chalamet played a teenage version of McConaughey’s son in Christopher Nolan’s 2014 sci-fi epic.
Since that early role, Chalamet has become a global powerhouse, recently dominating the box office with the 2025 release of the Josh Safdie-directed Marty Supreme. He is currently preparing for the massive theatrical launch of Dune: Part Three, scheduled for December 18, where he will conclude his journey as Paul Atreides alongside Zendaya and Florence Pugh.
Matthew McConaughey has also been keeping a high profile, recently wrapping the crime thriller The Rivals of Amziah King, which earned a near-perfect score from critics following its festival circuit run. The film, directed by Andrew Patterson and co-starring Kurt Russell and Cole Sprouse, is set to hit theaters nationwide on August 21.
Beyond the big screen, McConaughey continues to balance his Hollywood career with his role as a “Minister of Culture” and professor at the University of Texas. The town hall event served as a homecoming for both actors, bringing together a legendary “father and son” duo for a generation of fans who have followed their respective rises to the top of the industry.
While their paths have diverged since their time on the Interstellar farm, their chemistry remains undeniable. Whether they are discussing the future of AI in Hollywood or the specific mechanics of a “close-talker” conversation, the pair continues to prove that some of the best Hollywood friendships are built on a foundation of mutual admiration and a healthy sense of humor.
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