Franco in talks for new role in biopic.
Back at the start of the year James Franco was in talks to reunite with ‘Howl’ helmers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman for ‘Lovelace,’ a biopic of the late porn star Linda Lovelace. The ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ star was lined up to play Lovelace’s pornographer husband Chuck Traynor, Franco ended up passing on the role.
Now, it is being reported that Franco is back in talks with the creative team behind the project, but this time it’s for a cameo role. The role in question is that of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.
The film, which goes into production this week, is set between the birth of the sexual revolution and the culmination of the feminist movement, with the film depicting the life of Linda Boreman, who as Linda Lovelace became the world’s first erotic superstar due to the success of ‘Deep Throat.’
Amanda Seyfried is attached to play the titular porn star with Peter Sarsgaard taking Franco’s vacated role. Sharon Stone, Juno Temple and Wes Bentley co-star as Linda’s mother, best friend and second husband, respectively.
Franco’s screen time as Hefner will be limited to scenes in which the magazine mogul welcomes Linda and Chuck to the Playboy Mansion for a screening of ‘Deep Throat’ and has a heart-to-heart with Linda about her future.
Variety also adds that Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth and Robert Patrick are set to join the cast, with Azaria playing ‘Deep Throat’ writer-director Jerry Damiano. Cannavale and Noth will play ‘Deep Throat’ producers Butchie Peraino and Anthony Romano, who go into business with Traynor after he shows them a home movie of her “special skill.” Patrick will play John Boreman, Linda’s father, who initially falls for Traynor’s charm when Linda brings him home but later finds himself ashamed of his daughter’s newfound celebrity.