Watch: Matthew McConaughey Battles HIV & The Law in First ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ Trailer

Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodruff in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’

There’s no way Dallas Buyers Club won’t be picking up a few statues this award season with two of its stars, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto , transforming almost beyond recognition for their roles.

McConaughey dropped over 40 pounds to become Ron Woodruff , a wild Texas cowboy and real-life hero who was diagnosed with HIV in 1985. He refused to accept his 30-day death sentence, studied the disease, and started a business smuggling non-FDA approved drugs to treat AIDS patients.

Leto also lost 30 pounds and got rid of a lot of hair (including eyebrows) for the role of Rayon, a waif-thin transgender woman also battling the disease.

Jared Leto as Rayon in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée , the compelling true-story also stars Jennifer Garner who plays Woodruff’s physician Dr. Eve Saks.

Set to premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in September, the film will hit theaters late November/early December. Its riveting first trailer has just been released. Enjoy below!

[spotted via nbcnews.com ]

*edited November 28, 2013*

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