See Matthew McConaughey in 'The Free State of Jones'

The Civil War action-drama The Free State of Jones has begun shooting in New Orleans, STX Entertainment announced Monday, and now we have our first look at star Matthew McConaughey in action.

The Gary Ross-directed film stars McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Beyond the Lights), Keri Russell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) and Mahershala Ali (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, House of Cards).

Set during the Civil War, The Free State of Jones tells the story of the defiant Southern farmer, Newt Knight (Matthew McConaughey), and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the Confederacy. By banding together with other small farmers, and with the assistance of local slaves, Knight was able to launch an uprising that led Jones County, Mississippi to secede from the Confederacy, creating a Free State of Jones. His marriage to Rachel, a former slave, and his establishment of a mixed race community was unique to the post-war South.

The Free State of Jones is set for release on March 11, 2016.