Ewan McGregor Joins Cast of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Film

Deadline.com reports that Ewan McGregor has joined the cast of the film adaptation of Tracy Letts' AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, alongside Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. The actor joins previously announced cast members Chris Cooper, Margo Martingdale and Andrea Riseborough in the film.

The play, which originally premiered at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, opened on Broadway in December of 2007 and was the recipient of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Play.

The film, directed by John Wells, will see Streep and Roberts playing family matriarch Violet and her eldest daughter, respectively. Riseborough takes on the role of Violet's youngest daughter, Karen. Cooper will play Violet's brother in law. McGregor will portray Bill Fordham, described as "the estranged husband of Barbara (Roberts) and son-in-law of pill-popping matriarch Violet Weston (Streep). A college professor, he left his wife for one of his students but wants to be there for his family. His marriage is disintegrating and his patience is running thin."

The story follows the Weston family whose lives have been "splintered in many directions until their alcoholic father's disappearance brings them back to their childhood home and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them."

The film is a Jean Doumanian / Smokehouse Production. Produced by George Clooney & Grant Heslov, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler. Shooting is set to begin this September for a possible 2013 release date.

McGregor is best known for his film roles in Trainspotting, Star Wars, Moulin Rouge!, Big Fish and most recently, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen. The actor made his London stage debut in Guys and Dolls, and also appeared in 2007's Othello.