James Franco To Play Hugh Hefner In Linda Lovelace Biopic?

Actor is deep in talks to cameo as Playboy founder in Amanda Seyfried flick.
By Jocelyn Vena

James Franco
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage

James Franco is no stranger to playing real people on the big screen, so this latest casting news comes as no surprise. Variety reports that the actor is deep in talks to cameo as Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in the Amanda Seyfried-starring Linda Lovelace biopic, simply titled "Lovelace."

If cast, the Oscar nominee would be reunited with his "Howl" directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. The film follows the story of real-life porn star Lovelace, who rose to notoriety as the star of porn flick "Deep Throat." Franco potentially could be on set for the film for only one day, shooting a scene in which the film screens at the famed Playboy mansion and he, as Hefner, has a talk with Lovelace, real name Linda Boreman.

While Franco's casting has yet to be finalized, four more actors are set to join Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard, who will play her husband, Chuck Traynor. (Franco had originally been in talks for that role.) Bobby Cannavale and Chris Noth will play "Deep Throat" investors Butchie Peraino and Anthony Romano, Hank Azaria is on-board for the role of writer/director Jerry Damiano and Robert Patrick will play Linda's father, John Boreman.

The flick began shooting this week in Los Angeles. The cast also includes Sharon Stone (playing Lovelace's mother), Juno Temple (as her best friend) and Wes Bentley (who will play her second husband). While the cast is filling out, Variety adds that several notable positions are still open. They include "Deep Throat" co-star Harry Reems, feminist icon Gloria Steinem and Rat Packer Sammy Davis Jr.

"It's going to be really hard and kind of terrifying at the same time," Seyfried told ABCNews.com about the role earlier this month. "It's something completely different. I do have some liberties there but I am playing someone that existed in history and had quite an established reputation for something very extreme."

Seyfried is not the first actress attached to the role of Lovelace. Playboy cover girl Lindsay Lohan was once readying a starring role in a Lovelace biopic before she was dropped. Before Seyfried nabbed the role, Olivia Wilde had also been mentioned as a possible star.

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