James Franco in Talks to Play Hugh Hefner

(New York Post) - James Franco is in talks to play Hugh Hefner in the upcoming movie "Lovelace."

Franco is in discussions for a cameo part as Hefner in the Linda Lovelace biopic, which stars Amanda Seyfried as the "Deep Throat" star, Variety reported.

Franco would be on set for a single day, starring in a pivotal scene where Lovelace visits the Playboy mansion along with her husband, Chuck Traynor, played by Peter Sarsgaard. The movie also co-stars Hank Azaria and Chris Noth.

Lovelace's story is a complicated one. While she starred in "Deep Throat" in 1972, widely regarded as the first porn movie with a plot, she later disavowed her participation in the film and in the industry in general.

She claimed that her then-husband Traynor forced her to do the film at gunpoint, holding an M-16 rifle to her head. She alleged that she was often abused by Traynor, who went on to marry and guide the career of porn star Marilyn Chambers.

"Lovelace" is being directed by Rob Epstien and Jeffrey Friendman, who Franco worked with on "Howl." Originally, Franco was in talks to play Traynor in the movie, though discussions for the part did not pan out.

Instead, Franco is taking the lead role in another porn biopic, "Cherry," about a drug-addicted lawyer who gets pulled into the porn industry. At the same time, Franco is directing a documentary about porn production company, Kink.com.

Read more: New York Post