James Franco set to produce unexpected TV movie

Actor and director James Franco poses for photographers on the red carpet for the screening of the film 'Child Of God' at the 70th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Aug. 31, 2013. (AP / Andrew Medichini)

The actor and director James Franco is set to executive produce a TV movie for the cable network Lifetime, according to US press reports. The TV movie will be a remake of "Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?" which starred Tori Spelling and was screened on NBC in the 1990s.

James Franco has once again popped up where he is not expected. He has come up with the idea of remaking "Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?" for Lifetime, a US network that specializes in television movies. This TV movie which dates back to 1996 became a cult hit over the years thanks to its many repeat broadcasts.

Tori Spelling, who was at the height of her fame due to the "Beverly Hills" series, played Lauren, a young student who falls in love with the campus playboy who is a very protective young man with a troubled past. Lauren's mother disapproves of the relationship.

James Franco will be involved in the production of this TV movie, which is expected to debut in 2016, leaving the role of director to Melanie Aitkenhead, who has already directed the actor in the adaptation of his novel "Actors Anonymous". Variety says that the star could make an appearance in the new TV movie, as could Tori Spelling.

This new project proves once again that the actor holds a unique place in Hollywood. His unconventional career trajectory has combined crazy comedies ("Pineapple Express", "This is the End", "The Interview") with more serious roles ("Spider-Man", "127 Hours", "Milk", "Planet of the Apes").

James Franco is also a painter and writer. His work has been exhibited in New York and he has written several novels. The Californian likes to venture down different paths, sometimes far away from what is expected in Hollywood. In 2009, he surprised everyone by accepting a role in the soap "General Hospital", where he stayed for three years, appearing in around 50 episodes.

He is also a director and is currently shooting "The Disaster Artist" which tells the story of making "The Room", which was disliked by the critics but became a cult movie in Hollywood. In this latest adventure, he has signed up various big screen stars including Sharon Stone, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, Seth Rogen, Kate Upton and his brother, Dave Franco.