Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep Cast in Osage: August County Film Adaptation

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 16, 2012 4:30PM

Julia Roberts Photo Credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com. Meryl Streep Photo Credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

The film adaptation of August: Osage County is getting some major league star power. The Weinstein Company confirmed that they've signed Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts to star in their production of Tracy Letts' Pulitzer and Tony award-winning play.

Streep will take on the role of pill-popping mother Violet Weston and Roberts will portray Violet's daughter Barbara Fordham, who feels the need to control everything around her as her life falls apart.

August: Osage County, with its sensational dialogue and whipsmart performances by Deanna Dunagan and Amy Morton, was Steppenwolf Theatre's most critically acclaimed play in recent memory when it August 2007, then later became a Broadway sensation. Dunagan won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Violet in the Broadway version and Morton received some of the best reviews of her career as Barbara.

Roberts said in a statement, "“After seeing Meryl Streep’s mesmerizing portrayal as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, it has me even more excited and proud to co-star with her."

the film version of Osage is being directed by John Wells and is slated for a 2013 release.