One the perks of being a producer-director-writer-actor is the sheer quantity of circles that the multi-hyphenate tag permits you entry into. For James Franco, this means he meets a lot of people. Moreso than any other non-celebrity might in a regular day. By that rationale, it’s probably a lot easier to cast movies seeing as he knows everybody. Applying that conclusion to today’s piece of news on his latest effort, In Dubious Battle seems to stick; he really does know everybody because everybody’s in the movie.
Josh Hutcherson, Zach Braff, Analeigh Tipton, Ashley Greene and Ahna O’Reilly are the latest additions to a cast that’s already bulging with starry names. This new roster join Nat Wolff, who signed up two days ago, and the previously-announced Selena Gomez, Vincent D’Onofrio, Danny McBride, Robert Duvall, Ed Harris, Bryan Cranston and Franco himself.
In Dubious Battle explores one of many deep-rooted struggles in 1930s America. Set in a fictionalized valley in California, the story focuses on typical Steinbeckian themes: group behavior, social injustice and man’s inability to be nice to his neighbor. In terms of narrative drive, the movie will kickstart with a labor conflict between migrant apple pickers and the local growers’ association. During this period, Jim Nolan (Wolff) becomes involved in the labor movement and rapidly matures as he learns what it means to do organizational fieldwork.
Franco’s irreverant onscreen comedy has made way for a far more straightforward directorial approach. It’s so straight in fact, that his line of sight is firmly stuck on the literature of John Steinbeck. The movie will be his third adaptation of the celebrated author, after As I Lay Dying and The Sound And The Fury. He also reunites with screenwriter Matt Rager for the project.
Currently in production in Georgia, In Dubious Battle is expected to hit screens later this year.
