The adaptation of Tracy Letts’ play August: Osage County is attracting the sort of cast any producer would salivate over. But since one of the film version’s producers is George Clooney, he’s probably used to everyone taking his phone calls. The latest person to say yes is Ewan McGregor.
Letts’ work, which has already scooped the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award, is headed for the screen under the directon of John Wells. The plot follows a family that has spun off in various directions, but which comes back together at their childhood home when a crisis strikes.
As for the cast, it already includes Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, Sam Shepard, Margo Martindale, Abigail Breslin and Benedict Cumberbatch. McGregor will be Bill Fordham, Roberts’ estranged college professor husband who ran off with one of his students but fetches up at the house in a show of support.
McGregor will next be seen in tsunami drama The Impossible (due here on January 4) followed by Jack The Giant Killer, which will be released on March 22.