Benedict Cumberbatch Joins AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Film

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Benedict Cumberbatch will join 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. Cumberbatch will portray the sensitive son of Streep’s sister, Mattie Fay Aiken (Martindale).

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 Weinstein Company acquired the rights to the play and are developing the project with George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures. Shooting is set to begin this September for a possible 2013 release date.

In 2010, Cumberbatch starred in the title role on Sherlock for BBC TV. He also starred in Steven Spielberg's War Horse film adaptation and last year alternated leads in Danny Boyle's production of FRANKENSTEIN. His other theater credits include 'Hedda Gabler', for which he received an Olivier Award nomination. Cumberbatch appeared in this year's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.