James Franco
Actor James Franco is to take on the role of iconic poet Allen Ginsberg in his new movie Howl.
Howl is the second consecutive gay role for the young actor who can be seen later in the year in political movie Milk as Scott Smith, Harvey Milk's longterm partner.
Franco told the New York Daily Times: ""Ginsberg has been one of my heroes, and this movie is just so important."
"I'm playing him when he was in his late 20s, just after he went to Columbia. We work with the old pictures. He has hair, he doesn't have a beard and he's not huge."
The young actor broke through with the role of Harry Osborn in the Spiderman franchise but has found major success this year with comedy Pineapple Express, alongside Seth Rogen and Nights In Rodanthe.
His new film Howl is named after Ginsberg's most famous poem.