*UPDATE* James Franco may play Hugh Hefner in Linda Lovelace biopic

 *UPDATE* THR(via Blackfilm.com) notes that Romeo Brown has joined the cast.

There are two competing biopics on pornstar and Deep Throat icon, Linda Lovelace. The one with the most potential is simply titled 'Lovelace', and comes from directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. When the film was first put forth, the hope was to have James Franco, who starred in their Allen Ginsberg biopic, Howl, star as Lovelace's abusive husband, Chuck Traynor. That eventually fell through, but Variety notes now that Franco may be returning in a possible cameo that would have him play Mr. Playboy himself, Hugh Hefner.

Looking like a truly star-studded affair, Lovelace features Amanda Seyfried as the adult film star, whose troubled life ended abuptly in 2002 after a automobile accident. Peter Sarsgaard will play Traynor, with Sharon Stone, Juno Temple, and Wes Bentley set for key roles as well. If Franco does return, he'll be part of a group that includes the newly signed Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale(Win Win), Chris Noth(Sex and the City), and Robert Patrick(Terminator 2). Azaria will play writer Jerry Damiano, who came up with the "script" for Deep Throat; Cannavale and Noth will play the film's financiers who get involved with Traynor after seeing a home made tape of Lovelace in action. Patrick will be Lovelace's father, who comes to regret her newfound celebrity. The film will be told through the eyes of three interviewers, questioning Lovelace at various stages of her life.

Wow. They aren't kiddin' around, are they? That level of talent puts this film squarely ahead of the Malin Akerman/Matt Dillon flick, which I think is probably going to disappear at some point.  Call it a hunch. [Variety]