He’ll be seen in no less than half-a-dozen films yet again this year and there seems to be no signs of stopping for James Franco. His latest project will be for producer Gus Van Sant, which will find the Milk star taking on the true story of Michael Glatze, a former gay activist based in San Francisico who went on to denounce homosexuality and became a Christian fundamentalist. Based on Benoit Denizet-Lewis‘ New York Times article from 2011, the $3.5 million New York production will kick off in July under the direction of Justin Kelly. [Page Six/Vulture]
Next up, following Nymphomaniac and the forthcoming Fury, Shia LaBeouf seems to have truly stepped away from the acting game for the timing being. After stepping away from one project recently, we now have word on his replacement for another. THR reports that Zac Efron has replaced the actor in an adaptation of John Grisham‘s The Associate. Efron will not only star in the story of a Yale grad who gets blackmailed and must work at a major law firm, but he’ll also produce the project. Once rumored for Adrian Lyne, he seems to have fallen off as a new writer is currently being sought.
Boston’s most notorious crime boss is getting the feature film treatment thanks to the Scott Cooper-helmed Black Mass and with Johnny Depp set for the Whitey Bulger role, we have a few more additions. THR reports that Juno Temple (The Dark Knight Rises) and Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad) have both joined the cast, with the latter’s involvement indicating he may be out of the running for Star Wars: Episode VII. The former will play prostitute Deborah Hussey, who “threatens to expose Whitey’s crimes,” while Plemons takes the role of tough guy Kevin Weeks, a close confidant to Whitey. With Guy Pearce, Dakota Johnson, and Joel Edgerton also part of the ensemble, Black Mass should arrive in the fall of 2015.
Lastly, a Way, Way Back reunion is brewing on a new project titled The Heart. With Jim Rash and Nat Faxon back in the helming chair, Sam Rockwell and Allison Janney are in talks to join the project, which has Kristen Wiig at the center. The Wrap reports the Bridesmaids star will play a woman struggling for cash who transports organs on the black market with the help of Rockwell’s character. Janney would take the role of Wiig’s boss in the film in the film that kicks off production this May in North Carolina.
Which of the above projects are you most looking forward to?