James Franco News

'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane will be among the celebrities featured in USA Network's one hour special, OUT OF CHARACTER WITH KRISTA SMITH.

As first reported on The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures is currently negotiating to give financial backing and distribution to Seth Rogen's upcoming comedy 'The Apocalypse'. The film, co-written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, will mark the directorial debut for the actor.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, January 1, 2012 - Sunday, January 1, 2012.

Revivals will often utilize the ticket selling power that comes with hiring a household name to lead a production - as was the case for the announced revival of SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, which was set to feature Nicole Kidman and James Franco and open this spring.

2012 is quickly approaching, and in celebration of the new year, BroadwayWorld will celebrate 2011 with lists of our biggest features of the year! Below are BroadwayWorld.com's most popular videos from 2011 (in no particular order)! Catch up below on anything that you might have missed from the past year on BroadwayWorld.com!

Oscar(R) and Golden Globe(R)-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, comedic mastermind and 'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane, and fashion designer Jason Wu, best known for creating First Lady Michelle Obama's inaugural dress, will be featured in OUT OF CHARACTER WITH KRISTA SMITH, a one hour interview special.

Variety reports that actor James Franco is currently in talks to star in the upcoming film biopic LOVELACE in the role of Hugh Hefner. Franco has previously worked with the film's directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman in the movie 'Howl'.

Focus World, the unique digital distribution initiative owned and operated by Focus Features, has closed deals on its slate for the first quarter of 2012. The announcement was made today by Focus President Andrew Karpen. The deals were closed by Avy Eschenasy, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning, Business Affairs and Acquisitions, with Manager, Digital Content Kent Sanderson.

The non-profit US-Ireland Alliance has announced that actress Michelle Williams will be honored with an Oscar Wilde award. Williams, who has received rave reviews including Best Actress awards from numerous critics groups for her portrayal as Marilyn Monroe in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, will be honored on Febuary 23, 2012 at the seventh annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring the Irish in Film.'

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced that Seth Rogen will serve as host for the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The 27th annual awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 25, and the premiere broadcast will air later that evening at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IFC.

A single act of both compassion and arrogance leads to a battle unlike any other when RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES makes its worldwide debut on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download on December 13th in North America and starting December 7th Internationally.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has just announced that award-winning actress, Viola Davis with the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award will appear on Friday, January 27, 2012, sponsored by Chumash Casino Resort. She will be honored with a Tribute celebrating her compelling performance in Tate Taylor's The Help at the 27th edition of the Festival which runs January 26 - February 5, 2012, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.

Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company of Detroit is set to host a performance of True West, written by Sam Shepard and featuring Jim Parrack of television's True Blood.

Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company of Detroit is set to host a performance of True West, written by Sam Shepard and featuring Jim Parrack of television's True Blood.

Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company of Detroit is set to host a performance of True West, written by Sam Shepard and featuring Jim Parrack of television's True Blood.

This November 12th and 13th, The Acting Studio at Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica presents The Actor's Golden Box, a two-day intensive program of training taught by renowned acting coach Michelle Danner.

Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning writer/director Oliver Stone (Platoon, Wall Street), Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated and Emmy Award winning Actress Lily Tomlin (9 to 5, Nashville), Golden Globe nominated and Emmy and Tony award-winning actress Ellen Barkin (The Big Easy, Ocean's 13) and actor James Marsden (X-Men, Hairspray) have been set to be honored as part of the 14th Annual Savannah Film Festival, which will take place from October 29th to November 5th.

The 15th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards, presented by Starz Entertainment, are pleased to announce that Academy Award-nominated actress Michelle Williams will be honored with the 'Hollywood Actress Award,' at the festival's Hollywood Film Awards Gala Ceremony, which will take place October 24, 2011, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

In just a few short years since his sensational debut in Lawrence Kasdan's MUMFORD, rising star Jason Ritter has carved out an impressive indie resume - including noted standouts such as THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS, HAPPY ENDINGS and GOOD DICK - in addition to a successful TV career - having appeared in featured roles in JOAN OF ARCADIA and THE CLASS before his leading role on THE EVENT last season - but theatre fans are certainly aware of considerable stage skills, as well, having performed in plays for many esteemed directors and premiering works by the likes of Neil LaBute and Wendy Wasserstein. While there has been the occasional big budget vehicle, too - SWIMFAN and FREDDY VS. JASON included - it is Ritter's fierce commitment to fine storytelling and intriguing projects that make him truly one to watch. Discussing many aspects of his busy career from THE DREAMER OF OZ opposite his iconic father, John - now available on the WIZARD OF OZ Blu-ray box-set - all the way up to his forthcoming films such as THE PERFECT FAMILY co-starring two previous InDepth InterView participants, Kathleen Turner and Sharon Lawrence, plus THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF, FREE SAMPLES, an untilled Mark Webber project, I AM I and his new Disney animated series, GRAVITY FALLS. With an emphasis on his theatre background and insights into the currently running LA Theatreworks presentation of COMPLETENESS, Ritter and I shine some light on a career that, based on what we have already seen from him onstage and onscreen, clearly knows no bounds whatsoever. Some people can do it all and do it all brilliantly and Jason Ritter has clearly proven he is one of those select, special few.