An upcoming film starring Matthew McConaughey is no longer moving forward, it has been announced.

The film, titled 'Dallas Sting', was meant to take place in 1984, and centre on the true story of a Dallas girls soccer team that travelled to China and, against the odds, defeated some of the best women’s teams in the world.

McConaughey was to play coach Bill Kinder, who led the team to victories over Australia, Japan and China and finally Italy in the championship game. The film was to be set against the backdrop of President Ronald Reagan opening up relations with China.

The drama was axed just six weeks before production was set to begin, with the film almost fully cast.

Sources close to The Hollywood Reporter say the cancellation comes after the film's production company Skydance received "disturbing allegations" surrounding aspects of the true story on which the drama was based. That investigation led Skydance and the producers to pull the plug.

While we can't speculate as to what the allegations were, THR report that producers were "disappointed by the development, as they felt the story of the 1984 team and its young women deserved to be told."

'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's Kari Skogland was set to direct the film. The script was written by 'GLOW' creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch.

McConaughey is a football fan and owns a minority stake in the newly formed MLS team Austin FC. He regularly attends matches and interacts with fans in the stadium.