Funnyman James Franco will reportedly play a real-life controversial figure in his next film.
The 35-year-old actor is tapped to play former-gay advocate, Michael Glatze, in a movie produced by Gus Van Sant. It will start shooting in New York in July, reported Ace Showbiz.
Glatze, who founded Young Gay America (YGA) magazine, had also made a documentary film, "Jim in Bold", to tackle gay teen suicide.
Franco previously worked with Van Sant in 2008's "Milk". The actor played gay rights activist, Scott Smith, the love interest to Sean Penn's Harvey Milk, while Van Sant served behind the lens.
Franco also played gay poet, Allen Ginsberg, in 2010's "Howl".
"It's not like it's my mission to tell the stories of as many gay men as possible, although in some cases, I think it is the point. I guess that a lot of the figures that I love were gay," Franco had said.
