George Clooney to produce film with Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts

Plus: Helen Mirren gets star on Walk of Fame, Kristen Stewart tops Forbes highest-paid list, Jeff Daniels leaves Dumb and Dumber 2, American Idols join Glee, and Cissy Houston to pay tribute to her daughter Whitney.

George Clooney. Chris Pizzello / AP
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George Clooney is producing the film version of August: Osage County, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a family of estranged women forced to come together in their Midwestern home when a crisis occurs. Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are to star as mother and daughter. John Wells will direct, with Tracy Letts writing the script based on his own play. The Weinstein Co says shooting will begin in October. * AP

Mirren and Franco to get Walk of Fame stars

Dame Helen Mirren, James Franco and the Backstreet Boys are among those getting stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 2013. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced on Friday the new 24 inductees, which also include Javier Bardem, Jennifer Hudson, Simon Baker, Bryan Cranston, Matthew Perry and Ellen DeGeneres, and the musicians Jane's Addiction, Janis Joplin, Usher, Thalia and Luther Vandross. * AP

Kristen Stewart tops Forbes highest-paid

Kristen Stewart has topped Forbes's list of the highest-paid Hollywood actresses between May 2011 and May 2012, reportedly earning US$34.5 million (Dh127m) during that period. Cameron Diaz was a close second with $34m and Sandra Bullock was third with $25m. The other actresses on the top 10 list are Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Meryl Streep, Kristen Wiig and Jennifer Aniston.

Jeff Daniels leaves Dumb and Dumber 2

After Jim Carrey left the Dumb and Dumber sequel last week owing to insufficient studio enthusiasm, Jeff Daniels says he won't do the movie without him. When the celebrity website TMZ asked Daniels on Thursday when the film will be released, he replied: "Don't you read? We're not doing it. Didn't you see that? It's all over the internet, it's not happening."

American Idols to appear on TV series

Jessica Sanchez, the Filipino-Mexican runner-up of the recent season of American Idol, is being courted by the producers of the musical television series Glee to join the show for a multi-episode arc in its forthcoming fourth season, says The Hollywood Reporter. She will join the show's other high-profile additions, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson, who have both signed on for multiple episodes. Meanwhile, the 2004 Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson is set to join the musical drama series Smash next season, where she will portray a Broadway star.

Houston's mother to perform tribute

Whitney Houston's mother will perform a tribute to her late daughter alongside other female singers at the forthcoming BET Awards. A source said Cissy Houston will perform at the July 1 awards show to honour her daughter, joined by "a few top divas". Kanye West, Beyoncé and Jay-Z are this year's top nominees. * AP