August: Osage County. The Big Screen Erupts.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

George Clooney is to produce the film version of Tracey Letts' play, 'August: Osage County', which will star Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

The play, about a dysfunctional family brought back together after their poet father disappears, won the Pulitzer and the Tony awards for best drama in 2008.

"It's such a terrific group and we feel honoured to help bring it to the screen," said Clooney in a statement.

The Weinstein company is backing the movie adaptation, while John Wells is directing.

John Wells is best known for his TV work including 'ER', 'Mildred Pierce' and the US adaptation of the UK hit, 'Shameless'.

George Clooney will be joined by co-producer Grant Heslov, who was also behind the star's previous films 'The Ides Of March and 'Good Night And Good Luck'.
"Grant and I are thrilled to work on this project... I can't think of anyone better than Harvey to put this all together".
Weinstein returned the compliment: "George and Grant are gifted producers, with great taste and instincts, and a work ethic that is second to none."

Meryl Streep will play a matriarch who is addicted to prescription drugs, while Julia Roberts will portray her eldest daughter Barbara.

The play made its Broadway debut in December 2007 after premiering at Chicago's Steepenwolf theatre earlier that year, it later played at the National Theatre in London.

The rest of the cast has still to be announced.
Shooting will begin in the autumn.

[bob8rich]

Absolutely awesome play. With Roberts & Streep leading the cast, I already can't wait to see this movie.

[devonian.t]

Oscar bait if ever I saw it!

[ClapYo'Hands]

I'm very happy as this is my favourite ever play!

[devonian.t]

Does anyone remember 900 Oneonta at the Old Vic (and Ambassadors).

That was a Southern pot-boiler if ever I saw one!

[jamiekennywicked]

Kathy Bates for Mattie Fae!

[Princeton Returns]

I hope this transfers to the screen better than God of Carnage did

[luke-h***]

My favourite play; Felicity Huffman would be a much better Barbara; we NEED Kathy Bates as Mattie Fae and John Goodman as Charlie? Kristin Davis as Karen? Paul Giamatti as Bill? Oh - the casting possibilities are endless!

[Spotlight61]

I hope this adaptation to screen is better than the current offering in cinema's of Tracy Lett's 'Killer Joe'.

[DeNada]

Killer Joe has had almost universally excellent reviews - what's wrong with the film, Spotlight? I've not seen or read the play but my understanding was that the film was supposed to be great!

[Spotlight61]

I saw the play and really liked it.

The theatre lent to the play a claustrophobic intensity that allowed you to engage with the characters and made use of their inter-connectedness and the hopelessness and desperation of their lives.

The humour grew out of the patheticness of the situation and the plight of the characters within that self-ignited cauldron.

I just didn't get any of that from the film. Don't get me wrong good direction, good acting but I just didn't relate to any of it. The collection of misfits seemed just that and some characters were introduced that didn't serve the film or have a through storyline. It just seemed that they were there to introduce another aspect of all out gratuitous violence.

I will add that this is my personal opinion and my enjoyment of the film may have been affected by having seen the play.

Perhaps if you haven't anything to compare it to, then it might be hugely enjoyable. The people I went to see the film with, whom haven't seen the play, described it as one of the worst films they've seen this year and they go to the cinema alot!!

A fair film but not a great one.

[devonian.t]

I am also looking forward to McDonagh's Seven Psychopaths!