Actor and author James Franco has begun working on his film adaptation of William Faulkner‘s celebrated book, As I Lay Dying.
The New York Daily News reported that Franco plans to be “loyal” to the Faulkner text. So far, the cast includes Danny McBride, Tim Blake Nelson, Logan Marshall Green, Ahna O’Reilly and Jim Parrack. Shooting begins in October, but no release date has been revealed.
Here’s more from Showbiz 411: “Franco himself will have a small role in the film, based on Faulkner’s famous tale told in more than a dozen voices….The last time someone tried to make one of his novels into a film was the legendary Martin Ritt, in 1959, with The Sound and the Fury.”
Back in 2011, Franco announced his intentions to work on film adaptations of the Faulkner novel and Cormac McCarthy‘s 1985 title, Blood Meridian. In an interesting turn of events, Franco ended up switching gears and directing McCarthy‘s 1973 title, Child of God, first. That project is currently in its post-production phase; a theatrical release date will be set for 2013. (Photo Credit: Chuck Zlotnick)