Actor James Franco in in talks for a cameo role as Hugh Hefner in Lovelace. We reported back in January that James Franco was in talks to play the male lead of Chuck Traynor, although a deal was never reached. Peter Sarsgaard is playing Traynor, with Amanda Seyfried starring as porn actress Linda Lovelace.

If a deal is reached, James Franco will be reunited with Howl directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. The drama follows Linda Lovelace's iconic rise in the adult entertainment industry. James Franco's involvement will be limited, with only one scene where Hugh Hefner invites Lovelace and Traynor to the Playboy mansion for a screening of Deep Throat, the XXX film that made Linda Lovelace a world-famous porn star.

Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman will direct from a screenplay by Andy Bellin. We reported earlier today that Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth and Robert Patrick joined the cast of Lovelace, which started production today in Los Angeles.