Actor and director James Franco’s next project is a remake of William Friedkin’s risqué film of the ’80s “Cruising”, starring Al Pacino. Franco has teamed with “I Want Your Love” gay art-porn director Travis Mathews to direct the film. In an interview with The Advocate Matthews revealed details of the project. Here are some highlights:
About the film:
We are reimagining 40 minutes of footage that was cut from Cruising. The footage was lost after [Cruising director] William Friedkin had to cut it out to secure an R rating. When he went back to put it in for the 30th anniversary [DVD release] he was told it had been destroyed. That was where we started. But James Franco’s Cruising is primarily about the making of the 40 minutes of film that was eventually lost. No one will confuse it for a remake.
On the Actors that will participate in the film:
Franco is playing himself. I’m playing myself. Val Lauren gives an amazing performance as … I hesitate to say he’s playing Pacino because it’s more than that, but the short answer is yes, he’s interpreting that character and doing something all his own.
About the film premiere:
In New York during Fashion Week. A feature-length version will be playing festivals next year.
Read the full interview via THE ADVOCATE
