James Franco

James Franco in Talks to Star in “How to Pick Up Women” Adaptation THE GAME

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 6th, 2012 at 12:52 pm

There was a time when casting stories regarding James Franco used to be surprising. A movie star doing a character arc on General Hospital? Inconceivable! But now, strange project after strange project, general reaction has become “Oh sure, of course.” Such is the case with the latest Franco casting story, as THR reports that the actor is in talks to star as a pick-up artist in The Game. Based on the not-at-all chauvinistic memoir by Neil Strauss documenting his efforts to learn the tricks to becoming a successful pick-up artist, the film will center on the protagonist’s efforts to get lucky. Franco is in talks to play “Mystery”, a man who serves as Strauss’ teacher.

Solitary Man writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien were recently tapped to rewrite the script, with Chris and Paul Weitz onboard to produce. Franco is also in talks to play another lothario, as he’s being eyed to cameo as Hugh Hefner in the biopic Lovelace. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the book.

Seth Rogen’s Directorial Debut THE APOCALYPSE in Negotiations with Sony

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 5th, 2012 at 7:13 pm

Hoping to hop on the apocalyptic bandwagon that will surely never get annoying in 2012, Sony Pictures has entered into negotiations to finance and distribute The Apocalypse, an end of days comedy marking the directorial debut of Seth Rogen. Written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg from a story by Jason Stone, the pic was inspired by a short film called Jay and Seth vs The Apocalypse. In it, Rogen and Jay Baruchel play their real life selves while they ride out the end of the world in their apartment. Since two movie stars cooped up during Armageddon clearly isn’t enough, the project has expanded to include James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson now residing in Franco’s (presumably larger?) Los Angeles apartment. We previously reported that the pic would start shooting in February, but it looks as if that will be pushed back until spring. Hit the jump for more on The Apocalypse.

Movie Sequel News Including MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 5, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS 2 and GREMLINS 3

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 22nd, 2011 at 4:04 pm

Let’s face it: the holidays are here and most people’s brains are already on vacation. Since it’s just too hard to come up with an original movie idea right now, a lot of talk has turned to potential sequels. Some franchises, like Gremlins and Mission: Impossible already have more than one movie in the books while others, such as Colombiana and Pineapple Express are open to sequels just because they can be. So we’ve ransacked the internets to find some updates on sequels you’ve been dying to see and others you never dreamed of being produced. Hit the jump to check them out.

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Blu-ray Review

by Scott Wampler    Posted: December 21st, 2011 at 6:58 am

One of the biggest surprises for me this year was Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of The Planet of The Apes, a film that I had steadfastly refused to see for weeks after its release:  The Apes franchise is not a franchise I have ever loved (or even liked), the inclusion of James Franco seemed beyond-ominous to me (and the trailers seemed to support my suspicions), and the fact that 20^th Century Fox was selling their film on the gee-whiz sight of an ape fighting a helicopter seemed—at the time—like the very definition of absurd to me.  Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for me to eat some serious crow:  Rise of The Planet of The Apes is one of the year’s best films, a rare combination of “good ideas” and “holy crap” special effects that completely changed my opinion of what this franchise could be.  You should see it, but first, read on for my full review, after the jump.

Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth, and Robert Patrick Join LOVELACE; James Franco in Talks to Cameo as Hugh Hefner

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 20th, 2011 at 11:51 am

As the two competing Linda Lovelace biopics continue to race toward the finish line, one moves closer to release as production on Lovelace began today.  Variety reports that Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale (Win Win), Chris Noth (Sex and the City), and Robert Patrick have all joined the cast of the now in-production indie. Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (Howl), the film has Amanda Seyfried set to star as the titular porn star, with Peter Sarsgaard in place as Lovelace’s husband (whom she claims for coerced her into pornography). But that’s not all, as James Franco is also apparently in talks to appear in the film as one Hugh Hefner. Franco was initially eyed to take on Sarsgaard’s part, but the thought of Franco playing Hefner in full force is almost too good to be true.

Franco’s role would be little more than a cameo, as the Hefner sequence simply involves Lovelace and her husband attending a screening of Deep Throat at the Playboy mansion. Hit the jump for more on the project.

James Franco Joins Indie Flick SPRING BREAKERS; Emma Roberts May Co-Star [UPDATED]

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 1st, 2011 at 2:22 pm

James Franco has signed on to Harmony Korine‘s indie film Spring Breakers.  The plot centers on four college girls who rob a fast food joint so they afford to go on spring break in Florida.  To shock of no one, the idiotic plan fails and the girls get arrested.  They’re bailed out by Franco’s character, “Alien, a rapping drug and arms dealer who bails them out and entices them to kill his arch-rival, a murderer who is appropriately named Arch.” Variety adds that Emma Roberts is in talks to play one of the co-eds, “Candy, a southern brunette who feeds off danger.” If the plot doesn’t devolve into an over-stylized quirk pile, Spring Breakers sounds like it could be a fun little flick.  Franco will shoot his part over the course of two weeks during spring break in Florida.

Franco recently dropped out of The Iceman, and is currently shooting on Sam Raimi‘s blockbuster Wizard of Oz prequel/re-imagining, Oz, The Great and Powerful.  He’ll next be seen in the indies Maladies, The Stare, and Cherry.  He’s also expected to star in Seth Rogen‘s directorial debut, The Apocalypse (formerly Seth and Jay vs. The Apocalypse). [Update: Variety has updated their story to add that Disney Channel alums Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez are also in talks to join the cast.]

James Franco Leaves THE ICEMAN Citing Contractual Disagreements

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: October 18th, 2011 at 7:14 pm

It looks as if the biopic based on professional hit man Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski will be short one murderous mentor. James Franco, who was slated to play Robert “Mr. Softee” Pronge, the assassination advisor to Kuklinski (Michael Shannon), has opted out of the project.

The Iceman is based on the book “The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer” by Anthony Bruno. Kuklinski claimed to have murdered over 250 men, committing his first at a very early age. Perhaps with Franco’s upcoming role in Oz: The Great and Powerful, the Oscar-nominated actor wanted to distance himself from the subject matter. Hit the jump for more on The Iceman

Original Ending to RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Revealed

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 3rd, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a damn fine film and the only note that rang hollow was forcing in the “Damn dirty apes!” line.  While that line sadly made it into the final cut, the film’s original ending did not.  I know there are plenty of folks who missed the movie while it was in theaters, and since I have to talk about the current ending to compare it to the original one, I’m going to put this story after the jump because I don’t want to spoil the movie for folks.

Hit the jump to find out how Rise of the Planet of the Apes originally ended.

Jonah Hill, James Franco, Danny McBride, and Craig Robinson Join Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogen in JAY AND SETH VS. THE APOCALYPSE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 21st, 2011 at 4:17 pm

A few weeks ago, we reported that Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel had decided to add many more cast members to their post-apocalyptic comedy Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse. The actor was remiss to reveal just who else would be joining the duo, but today he apparently decided was a good day to disclose that information. Rogen confirmed that Jonah Hill, James Franco, Danny McBride, and Craig Robinson will also be starring in the flick. Rogen wrote the film with his Superbad writing partner Evan Goldberg, and the duo are set to make their directorial debut with the project (which is now shaping up to be the Valentine’s Day of Apatowian comedies, except with way less suckage). Hit the jump for more, including who won’t be starring in the film.

YOUR HIGHNESS DVD Review

by Gil Kellerman    Posted: August 15th, 2011 at 6:09 am

Your Highness, set in the medieval days of knights, dragons and sorcerers tells the story of two brothers.  Fabious (James Franco) is the quintessential debonair prince, prone to victory in innumerable death-defying quests and feats.  His brother Thadeous (Danny McBride) is an out-of-shape, lazy slob who excels at toking herb and chasing sheep.  But when Fabious’ bride-to-be Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel) is kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux), Fabious sets out on a mission to rescue her.  And by order of their father (Charles Dance), Thadeous is told he must help his brother on his quest.  My review of the DVD after the jump.

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 4th, 2011 at 3:02 pm

You’re not supposed to cut out your stars half-way through your blockbuster movie.  You’re not supposed to rest your big summer movie on apes created by CGI motion-capture technology.  You’re not supposed to sell an audience on the far-fetched idea that humans can be defeated by a species that doesn’t have opposable thumbs [correction: Apes do have opposable thumbs.  We're all doomed].  You’re not supposed to leave the audience on a down note.  There’s so much that goes into making a formulaic, forgettable blockbuster and no one told the folks behind Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  Instead, Rupert Wyatt, the screenwriters, the actors, and the special effects team broke all the rules and came out with one the summer’s most exciting movies.

5 Movie Clips from RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 29th, 2011 at 11:38 am

New clips from Rise of the Planet of the Apes have gone online.  I liked the earlier clip I saw of Caesar (Andy Serkis) protecting his human father figure (John Lithgow) but now I want to go into the film not spoiling any more of it for myself.  However, if you still need to be convinced about pre-damned-and-dirty apes then hit the jump to check out the 5 clips.  The film stars James Franco, Freida Pinto, Tom Felton, and Brian Cox.  Rise of the Planet of the Apes opens August 5th.

First Synopsis for Sam Raimi’s OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL Starring James Franco

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 26th, 2011 at 11:34 am

Principal photography has begun on Sam Raimi’s next film, Oz The Great and Powerful and now we have the first official synopsis for the film.  We now know that the eponymous’ wizard’s real name is Oscar Diggs.  Diggs is “a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics” who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  The film also stars Zach Braff as Diggs’ circus assistant, and Braff will also lend his vocal talents to one of the CGI creatures in the story — Finley, the winged monkey who accompanies the magician on his journey to Oz.  I’ve always said that the only thing better than a monkey sidekick is a flying monkey sidekick.

Hit the jump for the full synopsis and press release.  Oz The Great and Powerful is set to open on March 8, 2013.

New Trailer, Images, and Poster for RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 22nd, 2011 at 8:32 am

We’ve got a slew of monkey news for you today. A UK trailer and poster, as well as a batch of new images from Rise of the Planet of the Apes have been released. This international trailer looks to be the best one yet. I think it gets the tone just right, plus we get our first look at the apes standing up (next step, clothes). I still don’t think an Apes reboot is necessary, but I think a sequel to Rise, wherein we see the apes begin to build society anew, would be much more interesting than this film. Nevertheless, the effects on the apes keep looking better and better each time we see a new trailer. The new images released give us a great look at some of WETA Digital’s work.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer, poster, and images. Starring James Franco, Andy Serkis, Tom Felton, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, and Freida Pinto, Rise of the Planet of the Apes hits theaters on August 5th.

International Trailer for RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 17th, 2011 at 2:28 pm

20th Century Fox has released a new international television trailer for Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Although only one minute long, I definitely feel like this is the best cut of the film I’ve seen so far if for only two reasons: 1) It doesn’t include the line of dialogue “That chimp’s company property!” 2) It depicts an ape taking out a dickish guy on a cell phone who definitely had it coming. Directed by Rupert Wyatt, Rise of the Planet of the Apes stars James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, and Tom Felton.

Check out the new trailer after the jump. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is slated to hit theaters on August 5th. Click here to check out all of our previous Apes coverage.

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