Actors including Forest Whitaker and Olivia Wilde were announced Wednesday for a major anti-poverty concert later this month in New York.

The Global Citizen Festival, whose latest edition will take place on September 24 in Central Park, "sells" tickets in return for actions taken toward the goal of ending the world's most extreme poverty.

This year's headliners include R&B superstar Rihanna and leading rapper Kendrick Lamar as well as metal legends Metallica who are preparing to release a long-awaited album.

The festival announced a host committee of celebrities to mobilize the crowd in pressing the anti-poverty agenda.

The group includes Wilde, best known for the "House" television series, and Whitaker, who has starred in films ranging from "Platoon" to "The Last King of Scotland."

Among others are comedians Chris Rock and Kal Penn and actors Heather Graham, Bridget Moynahan and Bill Nye.

The festival also announced a new smartphone app to help supporters take actions, which include pressing their governments to support development aid and educational opportunities for the estimated 31 million girls around the world who go unschooled.

The Global Citizen Festival, timed to coincide with the UN General Assembly which brings world leaders to New York, will be broadcast on MSNBC and streamed on YouTube.