Clooney to make August: Osage County film

Clooney said he and Heslov were "excited" to work with Wells

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.

Streep and Roberts will play mother and daughter in the film.

"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.

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

And 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.

Dysfunctional family

"Grant and I are thrilled to work on this project... I can't think of anyone better than Harvey to put this all together," Clooney continued.

Weinstein returned the compliment: "George and Grant are gifted producers, with great taste and instincts, and a work ethic that is second to none."

Streep will play a matriarch who is addicted to prescription drugs, while 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.

The rest of the cast has still to be announced.

Shooting will begin in the autumn.