I have no idea how James Franco thinks he’s going to have time for the thousands of projects he’s signing on to star in, write or direct. In the past few months he’s taken on the Oscar hosting gig, been confirmed for a biopic of Miafia hit-man/serial killer Michael Kulinski and Noah Baumbach’s next movie, eyed the likes of As I Lay Dying, Blood Meridian, The Adderall Diaries and a Sal Mineo biopic as potential directing gigs, shot a secret art-film called Maladies, and intends to hit the Broadway stage this autumn.
Now he’s got another possibility, as he’s in talks to take on an extremely unlikeable role in a biopic of Linda Lovelace. There are actually two Lovelace movies floating around, but suffice to say this isn’t the one that was going to star Lindsay Lohan before she got sacked and replaced by Malin Akerman. This is one the other one, from Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, who worked with Franco on the movie Howl.
Franco would play Chuck Traynor, the pornographer who was also Lovelace’s husband at the time she came to international attention for the hardcore hit, Deep Throat. However after she left the business and became and anti-porn crusader, she accused Traynor of essentially forcing her into prostitution and porn, through bullying and violence. She claimed that what you see in Deep Throat essentially amounted to rape, as she was doing it under duress – even saying some of it done at the point of a gun (a claim others have strenuously denied). However it does suggest Franco’s character won’t be the most charming of people in the movie.
The actor isn’t locked in yet, largely because his schedule is so full, so a lot of it will depend on timing. It also leaves open who will play Lovelace herself. Apparently an offer has gone out to Kate Hudson, but it’s not known how interested she might be. The directors will certainly be hoping they can attach them both, as like the other Lovelace biopic, despite being in the works for quite a while, it’s still struggling to secure funding, and two well known names would certainly help.