James Franco is looking to direct and star in a film adaptation of William Faulkner’s classic novel, The Sound and the Fury.
Franco has developed a script for the adaptation of the novel, which follows the ups and downs of the southern aristocratic Compson family in the early 20th century.
Franco recently revealed that he already has some ideas on who he would cast in the film.
The actor told the LA Times that he has been in talks with Mad Men star Jon Hamm to play patriarch “Mr. Compson,” younger brother Dave Franco as “Quentin Compson,” and his This is The End co-star Danny McBride in an unspecified role.
McBride appeared in Franco’s last directing venture, As I Lay Dying, another Faulkner adaptation. As for Hamm, Franco says aside from some scheduling issues that need to be “ironed out,” the actor should be able to join the project.
Although he has not revealed what role he plans to take on, Franco does plan to be found in front of and behind the camera just as he did with this year’s As I Lay Dying. That film premiered at Cannes, to a mostly positive response.
The actor told the Times that he hopes to begin shooting Sound and Fury later this fall, but is still working out the details. The film is expected to be funded independently and Franco eluded to it possibly being funded already, saying, “we’re in pretty good shape, but there are a few more things that have to happen before we’re good.”
Crowd-funding is currently the backbone of Franco’s project, Palo Alto, based on his own collection of stories.
Franco recently walked away from another acting/directing project, The Garden of Last Days, two weeks before production was set to begin. He said that decision had to do with insurance conflicts which would not allow him to use his preferred production crew.
We’ll keep our eyes and ears open as development of The Sound and Fury project continues.
Thanks, LA Times
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