Even with at least fifteen projects in the works, actor/writer/director/producer James Franco still seems confident that he can add one more iron to the fire. On Thursday it was announced that Franco will helm the film Pretenders, which follows the aftermath a teenage love triangle, involving a photographer, a director, and an actress.
The script was written by writer/director Josh Boone, who directed 2014’s adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars. The script has been in development since 2013. Boone is currently also writing adaptations of Stephen King novels The Stand and Lisey’s Story.
Rising young stars Jack Kilmer, Shameik Moore (Dope), and Jane Levy (Don’t Breathe) will star in Pretenders as the three friends. Kilmer previously starred in Franco’s film Palo Alto, as well as Nice Guys with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. Moore has gained fame from Netflix’s hit show The Get Down and was the star of last year’s indie breakout Dope. Levy was a regular in TV series Suburgatory, and is set to star in the film Four Seasons with Jeffrey Tambor and Emma Roberts.
Anton Yelchin was in talks to be part of the film until his tragic unexpected death earlier this year.
Franco is also set to direct Beautiful People, a bio of the 1960s Playboy hairstylist Jay Sebring, and Zola, a story about a stripper who goes on a road trip in Florida, as well as produce various other films in the next few years. The 38 year-old has at least six degrees in total from UCLA, Columbia, NYU, and Yale, and has taught Film and English classes at USC, UCLA, CalArts and NYU.
Rabbit Bandini Productions, SSS Entertainment and Yale Productions have signed on to produce.
No release date is set for the film.
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