Matthew McConaughey has revealed how he ended up acting with two generations of his family in The Lost Bus, a film about trying to escape California's deadly 2018 wildfires.

The Oscar-winning actor plays Kevin McKay, a school bus driver navigating 22 schoolchildren and their teacher through a raging inferno to safety.

But behind the scenes, the film was a family affair for McConaughey.

Kevin's mother and son were portrayed by the actor's own 93-year-old mum, Mary Kathlene 'Kay' McConaughey, and 17-year-old son Levi, in his first screen role.

"Just to be in a scene with those two, I never thought that was something that would happen," the star says.

The film is a real-life depiction of the devastation caused after a power line fell, releasing sparks onto the tinder-dry Sierra foothills.

The resulting wildfires burned for 17 days, killing 85 people and displacing more than 50,000, destroying most of the town of Paradise and much of the nearby communities.

In what Vulture has called "an instant disaster-movie classic", McConaughey stars opposite Barbie's America Ferrera, who plays teacher Mary Ludwig.

Mary and Kevin have to make split-second decisions that could save or kill everyone on the bus, all while worrying about the safety of their own families.

Kevin already has a lot on his plate - his father has died, his mum is unwell, his marriage has broken down and his teenage son wants to move back with his mother.

This is before........

© BBC