Set in southern California, Barkin will play crime family matriarch Janine 'Smurf' Cody, who assumes care of her teenage grandson following the death of his mother from an overdose.

Scott Speedman, best known for his role as Ben Covington in Felicity, will play Joel Edgerton's character Barry 'Baz' Brown.

The original film, which was director David Michôd's debut feature, won international critical acclaim and launched the careers of its stars.

Weaver was inundated with scripts following her nomination for best supporting actress, and will soon star alongside Patrick Stewart in upcoming sitcom Blunt Talk.

Edgerton went on to win roles in major films such as Zero Dark Thirty and The Great Gatsby.

Michôd himself is currently directing War Machine, a $60 million drama starring Brad Pitt - a far cry from the years he worked as a journalist in order to realise his dream of directing a feature.

Described by reviewers as an "Australian GoodFellas", Animal Kingdom was inspired by the Pettingill family of Melbourne, which in 1998 had two brothers acquitted in the murder of two Victorian police officers.

Filming for the pilot will begin in Los Angeles next month