James Franco Will Direct Film Adaptation of Little-Known Steinbeck Novel

February 10, 2015

James FrancoJames Franco will direct a film adaptation of John Steinbeck’s lesser-known 1936 novel, In Dubious Battle, according to the Hollywood Reporter. In Dubious Battle follows a labor activist who tries to organize a strike among fruit pickers in Central California.

Reportedly, the film shooting will begin in March, and the cast will include actors Bryan Cranston, Vincent D’Onofrio, Robert Duvall, Selena Gomez, Ed Harris, and Danny McBride. Deadline reports that Franco will direct the film from a screenplay by Matt Rager, who also wrote the script for Franco’s 2013 film, “As I Lay Dying,” based on the William Faulkner novel.

Franco has been heavily involved in both cinema-with-a-literary-bent, although his last big project was the controversial comedy, “The Interview.” He stars in two literary adaptations set for release this year, including “The Little Prince,” adapted from the Antoine de Saint-Exupery novella, and “The Adderall Diaries,” from Stephen Elliot.


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