The Hollywood Reporter has reported that James Franco is set to play photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in a film aptly titled Mapplethorpe. The film is currently a work in progress and is written, directed and co-produced by Ondi Timoner. Having previously focused on television and documentary projects, this film will mark Ms. Timoner’s first feature-length narrative. Actress Eliza Dushku is also serving as one of the film’s producers.

Mapplethorpe will look at the life of the often-controversial photographer, chronicling his rise to fame in the 1970s through to his untimely death from AIDS in 1989.

The announcement comes as part of the Tribeca Film Institute’s announcement of Mapplethorpe and 10 other projects being awarded grants totally $150,000 as part of the Tribeca All Access (TAA) Program.

According the press release, TAA “will present the 11 projects … at a five-day career-development program from April 22-26, during the 11th annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF),” which will run from April 18-29, 2012.

 

MORE FACTS ABOUT TRIBECA FILM INSTITUTE’S ALL ACCESS (TAA) PROGRAM

The Tribeca All Access (TAA) program consists of a wide range of works-in-progress by emerging and established filmmakers in the industry, who often come from statistically underrepresented communities.