James Franco As Hugh Hefner In 'Lovelace': Star In Talks

Already an expert on the adult entertainment industry, James Franco looks set to play one of its modern day founders.

According to Variety, Franco is in talks to play Hugh Hefner in a small role in the upcoming biopic of former porn icon and "Deep Throat" star Linda Lovelace. Last year, Franco was reportedly in talks to play the lead male role, Lovelace's ex-husband and production manager Chuck Traynor, but that role is now going to be played by Peter Sarsgaard. While Kate Hudson was being eyed to play Lovelace back when Franco was in talks for Traynor, Amanda Seyfried is set to play the title character. Hank Azaria just signed on to play Jerry Damiano, the director of "Deep Throat."

The part would be a small one, involving a scene in which "Deep Throat," a seminal 1972 porn film that gained even more fame when it became part of the Watergate scandal lexicon, was screened at Hefner's Playboy Mansion.

This isn't the only porn biopic he's starring in, either. He takes a lead with Heather Graham in "Cherry," which is due out next year.

Franco is directing a documentary on the porn industry and the San Francisco production company, Kink.com. He's also already had his name next to Playboy in headlines earlier this year, when his interview with the magazine saw him comment on his Oscars performance, slam critics and talk about rumors about his sexuality.

For family audiences looking to see the Oscar-nominee on screen, he'll feature as the Wizard of Oz in the 2013 Disney prequel "Oz: The Great and Powerful." His adaptation of "The Broken Tower" will be released in 2012.

For more, click over to Variety.

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Comments

[peachpage01]

01:55 PM on 01/07/2012

The only thing I'd be interested in seeing a portrayal of Mr.Super Creepy Creep Hefner would be a documentary of why this low life sexual predator has been so celebrated. He should have starred in Rescue Me for his views on women.

[LivelyLexie]

08:47 AM on 01/04/2012

It should work, they're both creepy.
I don't know what James Franco has done to himself in the last 5 years, but he looks rough.

[I AM THAT]

12:41 PM on 12/21/2011

What a HEADline! Is it being gay, a 3-some or what?

[JenniferWest]

12:30 PM on 12/21/2011

Coming Together! Ya got to love these HP headlines!

[Natalie Longurl]

09:06 AM on 12/21/2011

WOW! What sounds like an exciting new remake, can't wait to sezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[ali baba lol]

08:54 AM on 12/21/2011

there is only one hef..................hef should play himself

[Bob Metcalfe]

12:17 AM on 12/22/2011

He's about 150 dude, playing the young Hef would take some acting :-).

[lmab]

08:08 AM on 12/21/2011

Coming together....It's a good thing.

[Mort Adela]

05:59 AM on 12/21/2011

I suggest that Franco should take on a role playing a real actor. I know it would be a huge challenge for him, though.

[Hardyman1966]

11:26 AM on 12/21/2011

Most overexposed actor so far and I can't figure out why.  :)

[Mondayboy]

02:06 AM on 12/21/2011

I hope the director doesn't give Franco a D in acting

[jh95697]

07:44 PM on 12/20/2011

Playboy magazine has been loosing sales for years. How much does it cost to CLEAN 'the playboy mansion'? Chlorine can only do so much.

[InedaName]

07:22 PM on 12/20/2011

Is it just me or does Franco seem kind of skeevy lately?

[AlexNYC]

07:27 PM on 12/20/2011

It's just you.

[InedaName]

08:09 PM on 12/20/2011

Oh. Okay.

[Puss-catel]

07:04 PM on 12/20/2011

Franco accepts the work he is offered, so I can't begrudge him taking on the role of Hefner. Perhaps one day if he reaches the upper echelon in the acting world, he'll be more picky and turn down roles like these. For now, it's a stepping stone. We'll probubly want to throw stones at the screen when it debutes.

[DJMarian]

01:45 AM on 12/22/2011

He was also in a Soap Opera. He does what he thinks will be fun not what he thinks will bring him the the "upper echelon" of Hollywood.

[bonelessfluff]

06:56 PM on 12/20/2011

Heffner and Franco cumming together? TMI!

[rudewaitress]

05:43 PM on 12/20/2011

Lovelace, Hefner and Franco: a deep throat, an old goat and a Johnny one note.

[jmslotnick]

05:20 PM on 12/20/2011

What a waste of money. I would not spend one cent to see anything regarding Deep Throat/Linda Lovelace. Garbage and a waste of film. Anyone who would want to act in this film has to really be hurting for money. Probably will more than likely ruin a career not help it.