Zachary Quinto Joins James Franco in Upcoming Drama MICHAEL

Variety reports that Zachary Quinto and Emma Roberts have signed on to the upcoming drama MICHAEL, which follows an anti-gay pastor who was once gay himself. The actors will join previously announced cast member James Franco on the film to be helmed by Justin Kelly. Gus van Sant is the executive producer, along with producers Franco, Vince Jolivette, Michael Mendelsohn, Ron Singer and Scott Reed.

Quinto will portray the former boyfriend of Franco's character while Roberts will take on the role of his girlfriend. 'Leftovers' star Chris Zylka will also star as a past love interest.

The project is based on "My Ex-Gay Friend," a New York Times Magazine article penned by Benoit Denizet-Lewis. The article centered on Michael Glatze, "a Christian minister from Wyoming who was so entrenched in gay culture before he rejected his homosexuality, he founded a gay youth magazine."

Quinto recently starred in Broadway's The Glass Menagerie as Tom, alongside Cherry Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Brian J. Smith.

The actor has also starred onstage in Signature Theatre's 2010 productions of Angels in America: Perestroika and Angels in America: Millennium Approaches. His upcoming films include We'll Never Have Paris, The Invitation, The Girl Who Invented Kissing and You Were Never Here. Past screen credits are Star Trek and Star Trek: Into Darkness, as well as the TV series American Horror Story, Heroes and 24.