James Franco’s feverish dedication to adaptations continues with The Disaster Artist. Unlike Franco’s dedicated stream of Faulkner movies, his current project stems from a source that’s far from literary. It’s based on a documentary that explores the making of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room, AKA the worst movie ever made. While that picture is an undoubted mess, filled with no-name actors and shoddy plot entanglements, Franco’s flick is turning into quite the hot ticket. The latest addition to its star-studded cast? Sharon Stone.
The Basic Instinct actress joins a steam of recognizable talent, including Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Seth Rogen, Josh Hutcherson and Zac Efron, all set to play members of Wiseau’s cast and crew responsible for delivering that cinematic atrocity. Stone is said to be tackling the role of a Hollywood agent. Which, bearing in mind the bum deal most of his actors got, ought to give her some juicy material to gnaw on.
The Room is widely considered to be a point of interest for cinephiles. It’s so bad it’s not just good, it’s phenomenal. That appreciation of low culture led to two of the movie’s stars, Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell joining forces for a tell-all book on its production. Their memoir is what inspired Franco to take the reins on New Line’s flick. And that’s an understatement.
In addition to helming the piece, he’s donning the prosthetics and hairpieces for the role of Wiseau himself. While he could easily have aped the long-haired filmmaker by also writing and producing the movie, Franco’s efforts will remain remarkably low-key in comparison.
Co-starring Ari Graynor, Jacki Weaver, Hannibal Buress and Andrew Santino, The Disaster Artist is currently filming ahead of its 2016 release.
