Sam Shepard To Head The Weston Clan In 'August: Osage County' & Jennifer Jason Leigh Wants 'The Spectacular Now'

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by Simon Dang
August 28, 2012 12:37 PM
5 Comments

There's quite a cast building for the upcoming adaptation of "Bug" and "Killer Joe" scribe Tracy Lett's Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning play, "August: Osage County." Of course, there's the powerhouse teaming of Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, but on top of that, names like Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Cooper, Dermot Mulroney, Margo Martindale, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis and more are also on board the film, which will see John Wells ("The Company Men") direct.

Now, there's another name to add that prestigious list with vet Sam Shepard joining as the alcoholic patriarch of a dysfunctional Midwest family whose disappearance teams up the strong-willed women of his clan, forcing them to confront unspoken truths and long-held secrets. And the steel behind the film doesn't end there either: George Clooney and Grant Heslov will be producing through their Smokehouse Pictures shingle. Lensing will begin next month in Oklahoma. [Variety]

Jennifer Jason Leigh is providing some veteran experience to the cast of James Ponsoldt's "The Spectacular Now." The actress will play the mother of Miles Teller, who tries to help an introvert escape life as an outcast. Break out "The Descendants" star Shailene Woodley plays said introvert with Brie Larson also on board the pic that is scripted by "(500) Days of Summer" pair Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, based on Tim Tharp's novel.

Leigh hasn't been seen on screen since "Greenberg" from ex-partner Noah Baumbach but has a number projects in the works, including the role of Allen Ginsberg's mother, Naomi, in the upcoming "Kill Your Darlings," which stars (among others) Daniel Radcliffe as Ginsberg and David Cross as Ginsberg's father, Louis. [Variety]

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More: Sam Shepard, August: Osage County, Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Spectacular Now

5 Comments

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me | August 28, 2012 6:18 PMReply

Can't wait to see who will be cast to play the complicated role of Ivy in August Osage County. Come on Harvey, have you already cast the part or are you having trouble choosing? Inquiring minds want to know...
PTM | August 28, 2012 2:14 PMReply

Now, Playlist, Jennifer Jason Leigh is an actress that your blog should be glorifying and endorsing- not Rebecca Hall. Jennifer is brilliant, and she can play any role. She deserves to have a big career like Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton.
Alan | August 29, 2012 3:18 AM

"Jennifer is brilliant, and she can play any role" True, she can play any role, she's technically brilliant. Too bad she struggles to invest those characters with emotion or allure. She's like David in A.I., you know, a robot trying to convince others she's really human.
BL | August 28, 2012 1:34 PMReply

Sam Shepard. Amazing.

P.s. Still can't believe Harry Potter is playing Ginsberg.
SADF | August 28, 2012 12:50 PMReply

Andrea Riseborough is not in August: Osage County she was in talks to be in the film but her schedule wouldn't allow it, Juliette Lewis replaced her