James Franco is in talks to cameo as Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in the indie drama that will reunite him with his HOWL helmers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Should a deal close -- and that's still a maybe -- Franco would join newly-cast supporting players Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth and Robert Patrick as well as stars Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard. Set between the birth of the sexual revolution and the culmination of the feminist movement, LOVELACE depicts the life of Linda Boreman, who as 'Linda Lovelace' became the world's first erotic superstar due to the success of DEEP THROAT. Azaria will play DEEP THROAT writer-director Jerry Damiano, who prides himself on having made a porn movie with a story, characters and humor. Cannavale and Noth will play financiers Butchie Peraino and Anthony Romano, who go into business with Linda's pornographer husband Traynor (Sarsgaard) after he shows them a home movie of her special skill. Patrick will play Linda's father John Boreman, who initially falls for Chuck's charm when Linda brings him home, but later finds himself ashamed of his daughter's newfound celebrity. With Franco expected to be on set for a single day, his screentime as Hefner will be limited, as the magazine mogul welcomes Linda and Chuck to the Playboy Mansion for a screening.
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