American band Steely Dan launch a personal attack on Owen Wilson, after claiming that his latest film You, Me and Dupree is based upon one of their songs.

In an open letter posted on the band's official website, addressed to the actor's brother Luke, bandmembers Don and Walt say that Owen "has gotten himself mixed up with some pretty bad Hollywood schlockmeisters."

They claim that the filmmakers stole Wilson's character Dupree from their Grammy award-winning song 'Cousin Dupree', about a slacker musician who takes up residence on his aunt's couch.

Calling for the actor to come to one of their shows and publicly apologise for getting involved in the project, the musicians suggested there could be severe consequences otherwise.

"If this business goes unresolved, there are some pretty heavy people who are upset about this whole thing and we can't guarantee what kind of heat little Owen may be bringing on himself," the letter warns.