Franco sometimes appears in the movies he directs, but he is not expected to take a role in the filmGETTY IMAGES
JAMES FRANCO is in "negotiations to direct an adaptation" of the book "THOSE GUYS HAVE ALL THE FUN: INSIDE THE WORLD OF ESPN," by JIM MILLER and TOM SHALES, for Focus Features, according to Jeff Sneider of COLLIDER. CHRISTOPHER ROGERS "has been tapped to rewrite the script, which will follow" ESPN co-Founder BILL RASMUSSEN. In addition to Rasmussen and his family, key characters "will include" late ESPN co-Founder STUART EVEY; former ESPN President CHET SIMMONS, RCA salesman AL PARINELLO, A-B exec CLAUDE BISHOP and former ESPN VP/Production SCOTTY CONNAL, MICHAEL DE LUCA, JAMIE PATRICOF and JULIE YORN are "producing the film, while executive producers are still being worked out." The "elephant(s) in the room, of course, are the sexual misconduct allegations against Franco that resurfaced last winter ... though he vehemently denied any wrongdoing." The ESPN movie "would be a natural evolution for Franco as a filmmaker" on the heels of "The Disaster Artist" (COLLIDER.com, 7/25). HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Tatiana Siegel noted although Franco "sometimes appears in the movies he directs, he is not expected to take a role" in the film (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/25).
