Variety has reported that James Franco is in talks to make a cameo as Playboy creator Hugh Hefner in Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman‘s Lovelace. Franco was originally cast as Chuck Traynor, the husband of Linda Lovelace. That was when Kate Hudson was going to take the lead role of the famous porn star. Then Olivia Wilde became involved as Lovelace and Franco dropped out.
If the deal goes through, Franco will be spending only one day on set, shooting scenes of Hefner welcoming Lovelace and Traynor, played by Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard, to the Playboy Mansion, for a screening of the infamous Deep Throat, as well as a scene talking with Linda about her future.
Meanwhile, Hank Azaria, Chris Noth, Robert Patrick, and Bobby Cannavale have also joined the cast. Azaria will take on the role of Lovelace’s Deep Throat co-star, Jerry Damiano. While Robert Patrick will be playing Lovelace’s father and Noth and Cannavale will portray Anthony Romano and Butchie Peraino who were the financiers of Deep Throat.
Lovelace which is currently in production, stars Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Wes Bentley, Juno Temple, Hank Azaria, Chris Noth, Robert Patrick, and Bobby Cannavale, and will be in cinemas in 2012.