MTV Movies Blog › james franco

Tim Burton is at it again, planning to direct a new take on an old classic -- "Pinocchio," in this case -- and this time he wants Robert Downey Jr. to help him. Meanwhile, James Franco is ready to play "The Game," "Oldboy" is in search of a villain and the first image from "Lovelace" has hit the web.

Today is January 9, and you're tuning into today's casting call.

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Tags amanda seyfried, clive owen, george clooney, james franco, Lovelace, oldboy, Peter Sarsgaard, Pinocchio, robert downey jr., The Game, The Monuments Men, tim burton

After many rumors and much hoopla, Matt Damon is finally lining up his directorial debut.

Variety has learned that Damon and "The Office" star John Krasinski have co-written a currently untitled script that Damon will now helm. The idea originated between Krasinski and "Away We Go" writer Dave Eggers, and then Damon came on board. The film would follow a salesman who reevaluates his life after moving to a small town, with Damon playing the salesman. The flick is currently set up at Warner Bros, and should start shooting soon on the east coast.

Check out the rest of today's casting news after the jump!

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Tags Carnaval, james franco, john cusack, john krasinski, johnny knoxville, mark romanek, matt damon, tom felton, tom hanks

"Blomkvist and Salander have an odd relationship." Daniel Craig seems to be putting the emotional core of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" a bit lightly in the excerpt from this month's Empire magazine cover story, but that relationship is exactly what the sexy photos released from the issue are highlighting.

From Craig's Blomkvist handcuffed to a chair, to Rooney Mara's Salander blowing cigarette smoke into his mouth, the newest images from the film are showing off director David Fincher's knack for sexy, sexy filmmaking. As if you had any doubts, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is looking much closer to Fincher's work on "Fight Club" than on last year's "The Social Network."

Check out the rest of today's film news after the jump!

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Tags alfonso cuaron, Billy Ray, christopher nolan, daniel craig, james franco, jj abrams, kevin tancharoen, michael bay, Mortal Kombat, rise of the planet of the apes, Rooney Mara, Star Trek 2, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Twilight Zone

In addition to obsessing over casting announcements, set photos and plot details, we cinephiles love nothing more than a good old fashioned debate over the best performances in film history and the actors who delivered them. This "Who Played It Best?" game has endless possibilities for inciting fun-filled arguments with friends, and it's even more fun when you can get the actors in question involved.

When MTV News caught up with Jonah Hill recently to address the award buzz surrounding his role in "Moneyball," we decided to throw in a question about the best onscreen stoners since, you know, he and his "Moneyball" co-star Brad Pitt have both played them. Not to mention the fact that a few of the movies Hill has made involve and/or revolve around pot smokers.

So who does Hill think played the better stoner, Pitt in "True Romance" or himself in "Knocked Up"?

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Tags brad pitt, james franco, jonah hill, Video

Is James Franco's leading role in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" going to be a box office draw or disaster this weekend? He is worried about it, but director Rupert Wyatt isn't.

"I think people are going to see this film, hopefully, for the film," the British filmmaker told MTV News. "Those that will go see this film for James Franco will still see the film for James Franco."

The question was posed after Franco said in his Playboy interview that he figured critics would skewer this movie because he had such a good year last year.

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Tags andy serkis, james franco, rise of the planet of the apes, Rupert Wyatt

FROM MTV NEWSROOM: James Franco is already the hyphenate's hyphenate, but now, the acting-directing-art-making-multiple-university-attending-cat-bench-pressing-frequently-squinting star is adding another prefix to his eternally lengthening list of gigs: musician.

Well, sort of. Because while Franco has joined forces with "video/performance artist" Kalup Linzy to create the aptly-named duo Kalup & Franco (they'll release their debut EP, Turn It Up on July 12, through DJ /rupture's Dutty Artz label), based on what we've seen so far — namely, a live performance of "Proud Mary" — Franco doesn't actually seem to be doing much in the way of actual musicianship. Instead, he just sort of stands there in a tuxedo, looking handsome, while someone else vamps and camps (which, if you think about it, is basically all he did when he hosted the Oscars, too.)

Get the full story at MTV Newsroom!

Tags james franco

It's not always easy getting the audience's jaws to drop over the course of a movie, but some of this year's outings really kicked things up a notch or twelve. Really, cutting off one's own arm in order to survive? Completely rearranging reality with just the simplest of thoughts? Flying through the air in a porta-potty filled with you-know-what?

Yeah, it's been a weird year for Jaw Dropping Moments, and we're putting the incredibly difficult task to you, the 2011 MTV Movie Awards voters: which moment was the best? Read on for all of the contenders, then make sure to place your vote for Best Jaw Dropping Moment today!

Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"
If you thought that Nina Sayers was extreme during her steamy kiss with dancing colleague Lilly, you have no idea how intense she can get: and it all starts with one seemingly innocent hangnail.

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Tags 127 Hours, black swan, ellen page, inception, jackass 3d, james franco, justin bieber, leonardo dicaprio, MTV Movie Awards, natalie portman, never say never, Steve-O

If you ever wanted a slice of "American Pie" history and you're willing to get down and dirty for your prize, then Universal just might have the opportunity for you.

Universal is holding an open casting call for the role of Kara in the forthcoming "American Reunion," the fourth entry in the theatrical "American Pie" series. Described as "the sweet girl next door you used to babysit" but now considerably hotter, the role requires an actress who can play 18 – 20 and is ready for some "upper frontal nudity." Find out all the audition details over here!

In other casting news, both James Franco and 50 Cent have booked new projects while Michael Clarke Duncan is speaking out on his new role in "Green Lantern." Read about all that and more after the jump!

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Tags 50 cent, American Reunion, Cherry, Gently Down the Stream, green lantern, james franco, michael clarke duncan, odd thomas, topher grace

Fact: giant robots smashing each other to pieces is awesome in any language.

Proof: a brand new trailer for "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" has arrived, except this time, it's not in English. Check out Optimus Prime's slick French accent as he lays the law down with Shia LaBeouf and Frances McDormand, both actors falling in line with the Autobot leader's new dialect. Not a lot of new scenes to pour over here, unfortunately, but, hey… "Transformers" kicking ass in French. It sells itself.

Check out what else is happening in the movies world today past the jump, including some movement on the new "Terminator" film and the final casting of the last two "Hunger Games" tributes!

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Tags Alexander Ludwig, Headshot, I Alex Cross, Isabelle Fuhrman, james franco, Jean Reno, Sal, Terminator 5, The Hunger Games, transformers dark of the moon, Val Lauren

We first heard about James Franco's plans to adapt William Faulkner's classic novel "As I Lay Dying" back in January, when we were inundated with a slew of new projects the Oscar host was signing up for seemingly every day.

It's been several months since and all has been quiet on that front, but according to some information we gleaned from actor Paul Dano — rumored to be involved in Franco's adaptation — our speculation is that the actor/writer/host/professor/etc. is still working on bringing "As I Lay Dying" to the screen.

MTV News caught up with Dano at the Tribeca Film Festival, where he was very coy about the subject, offering up as much as he could without actually confirming or denying his involvement.

"I know James a little bit. Like him a lot. I know he's going to try to do this film. Don't know when and where yet. So honestly not really, can't say," Dano said. "I can't say because I don't know."

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Tags as I lay dying, james franco, paul dano