James Franco in Talks to Play Hugh Hefner in Porn Drama

Here’s one way to deflect attention from NYU GradeGate: Variety reports that James Franco is in talks to play Playboy impresario Hugh Hefner in Lovelace, the porn biopic starring Amanda Seyfried as the titular XXX actress Linda Lovelace, of Deep Throat fame. Unfortunately — or fortunately? — Franco’s role would be limited to a one-day cameo, which sounds like something along the lines of his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Green Hornet appearance. The film is currently shooting in Los Angeles. [Variety]

Marion Cotillard Whines (and Wins) in John Cameron Mitchell's 5-Minute Lady Dior Ad

Before I gift you with John Cameron Mitchell’s cute and funny five-minute short film for Dior where Marion Cotillard endures a panic attack during a photo shoot, let me acknowledge one unsettling truth: When she’s wearing banana curls and pink lipstick, Cotillard is a dead-ringer for Katy Perry. I DID NOT MAKE THE RULES. I’m sorry I discovered this, and I hope we can join hands and chuckle as we watch this silly photoshoot parody. “Open up that neck for me!” Best lines: “We really, really love your movie! I can’t wait to see it”; “What do you think of this? Tibetan prayer flags laced with Aztec gold. Isn’t that clever?” And of course, “There are people — tiny little people in the real world — who are counting on you.” The short is based on a Richard Avedon short film from the ’70s starring Lauren Hutton, and the mania of it is pretty similar. Every time I see Cotillard, it’s like I’m adoring her for the first time. Her conniption at the end is priceless. L.A.dy Dior The Film - Starring Marion Cotillard [The Beauty Shop]

Las Vegas crix say 'The Artist' tops

''The Artist'' continues its winning ways among critics' as the Las Vegas Film Critics Society 2011 bestows its highest honor on the silent pic. In addition to winning the Sierra for best picture, the Michel Hazanavicius flick also took home wins for best actor for Jean Dujardin, best score for Ludovic Bource, costume design for Mark Bridges and art design for Gregory S. Hooper. In the other acting categories, Michelle Williams won best actress for her turn in ''My Week with Marilyn,'' while Albert Brooks (''Drive'') and Melissa McCarthy (''Bridesmaids'') rounded out the supporting nods. Brooks was also honored with the org's William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award. Nicholas Winding Refn won for best helmer for ''Drive.'' The LVFCS is made up of selected print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas area. Contact Erin Maxwell at erin.maxwell@variety.com

Brad Pitt Would Star in an Angelina Jolie-Directed Film 'In a Second'

Ever since 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been one of Hollywood's most-famous star couples (sorry, Jen!), but with the exception of that 2005 action film the pair haven't worked together onset since. Now that Jolie has stepped behind the camera for 'In the Land of Blood and Honey,' will that change? If Pitt has his way, absolutely. In an interview with Extra, Pitt said that he'd work with Jolie, the director, 'in a second.' When that quote was relayed to the actress, whose directorial debut opens later this month, she seemed pleased. "Well, you know, I'd be extremely lucky to [direct him," she said. "He's one of my favorite actors! He's so extraordinary, so I'd be lucky, but still shy. I'd be shy to give him direction. We'll talk about it tonight." Jolie used Pitt as a sounding board while writing the script for 'In the Land of Blood and Honey,' a love story set against the backdrop of the Bosnian war. "I don't watch TV and I wasn't reading anything. So I started writing. I went from the beginning to the end. I didn't know any other way," she told Vanity Fair earlier this year, before revealing that she passed the script along to Pitt. "He called and said, 'You know, honey, it's not that bad.'" Jolie, who was at the center of a 'Blood and Honey' lawsuit controversy earlier this week, is not in 'Blood and Honey,' but her directorial debut hits on Dec. 23 in limited release. [via Extra] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Martha's running a business

The sea of dark suits within the UBS Media Conference got a dash of star energy as Martha Stewart in the spangled sweater developed a surprise entrance within the tail finish from the presentation by professionals from the organization she founded, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. ''I want to say 'hi.' It's my first-time here in the market sector within our company and i am thrilled to be with Thanks everybody,'' Stewart mentioned Wednesday. Traders crowded around to congratulate the entire of homemaking whose return to the spotlight marks the conclusion from the five-year stop with the Opportunities and Exchange Commission from being a professional inside a public company. In the starting point, Stewart rejoined the MSO board of company company directors in September. Asked for if she planned to visualise the title of chairman or Boss Stewart hesitated. ''TBA,'' she mentioned -- being introduced. Stewart's legal troubles started in 2003 when she was indicted with the government for opportunities fraud and obstruction of justice highly relevant to her acquisition of shares in biotech company ImClone. Throughout monthly-extended media circus from the jury trial, the Department of Justice mentioned that Stewart avoided a loss of profits -- of $45,673 -- by selling her ImClone shares in the finish of 2001 based on material, nonpublic information from her broker which she tried to cover the transaction. She is discovered guilty in March, 2004 of obstruction of justice and making false states federal scientists and visited jail for five several days. Stewart's re-emergence Wednesday coincided getting a vital announcement that store J.C. Penney was acquiring a 16.6% stake in Martha Stewart Omnimedia for $38.5 million, or $3.50 a share. The chain is trying to find new title brands to buck up sales. MSO shares skyrocketed, up 33.65% at $4.17 in midday purchasing and selling. The business made its title just like a magazine venture after a while Corporation. for your flagship Martha Stewart Living. Stewart extended rapidly into TV and retail, buying out Time Warner in 1997 and taking Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia public couple of years later. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Milla Jovovich Tweets A Spooky Holiday Greeting from the Resident Evil Set

Milla Jovovich is not just an arresting Fifth Element star and an above-average Project Runway judge — she’s also a roving reporter on the set of her own movie, Resident Evil: Retribution. Jovovich tweeted a holiday-themed video from “Camp Evil,” and her version of Santa Claus will haunt you until Christmas day. It’s beginning to look a lot like the antichrist! Something is just refreshing about watching a classy dame like Jovovich interact with an undead Santa Claus mannequin. “I can’t say anything because he’s dead, but…” [via @MillaJovovich]

'The Cabin inside the Woods' Trailer: Joss Whedon's Non-Superhero Movie

The moment 'Avengers' Joss Whedon fans are actually waiting for. For a long time. The initial trailer for 'The Cabin inside the Woods' has turned up! Starring Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford, 'Cabin' was written and produced by geek god Whedon this past year and hang up for release this season -- extended before Hemsworth even came out in 'Thor.' Sadly, studio finance issues triggered the film to sit down lower available for just two years. Fogged headlights you've been missing. 'The Cabin inside the Woods' features several college students, who spend a weekend inside a cabin in the heart of nowhere. However, initially this film appears being definately not your typical kids-in-distress slasher flick. Apparently, the cabin is inside some type of forcefield, where unsavory figures try to capture and terrorize the crowd. 'The Cabin inside the Woods' is slated striking theaters April 13, 2012 -Body month just before the Whedon-directed 'Avengers' drops. [via Yahoo!] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Pell : 'SNL' scribe plays for bigscreen laughs

Paula PellDuring her 17 seasons just like a author on "Saturday Evening Live," Paula Pell has seen the pattern participate in over and over."People will say, 'I desire to write a movie this summer season,' but with the finish of the year, you're just destroyed," states Pell, who also provides recurring roles as Paula Hornberg on "30 Rock" and Ron Swanson's (Nick Offerman) mother, Tammy, on "Parks and Entertainment." "You start and you also quickly say, 'Oh, I'll think I'll do that next summer season.' "After dealing with numerous family conditions as well as the dying from the friend who had just completed concentrate on her retirement home, Pell recognized arrived to obtain your entire day or, more precisely, the off-season.She spent summer season 2010 on-set writing additional jokes for "Bridesmaids," co-put together by Annie Mumolo and "SNL's" Kristin Wiig, who also starred. Then, last summer season, she co-produced and did dialogue punch-ups and rewrites on author-director Judd Apatow's approaching Universal feature "That Is Forty."This season, Pell has reduce the quantity of "SNL" episodes she's concentrating on so she'll dedicate more hours to have an untitled comedy script she's writing for Universal that Tina Fey will produce via her Little Stranger banner.The script is inspired by her teenage journals and her relationship along with her older sister. Pell was elevated theater-obsessed in Joliet, Ill., attending Catholic schools that mounted lavish musical productions with full orchestras. When she was in the heart of secondary school, her family gone after Orlando, Fla., and after graduation within the U. of Tennessee getting a diploma in theater, she returned for the city and situated behave as a artist within the theme parks. She later grew to become part of the SAK Comedy Lab, a close improvisational troupe, which introduced her for the target the producers of "SNL," who hired her in 1995."I've experienced my ft in 'Saturday Evening Live' and my heart there in lots of ways, however i am really pushing myself to accomplish these new projects," the WME client states. "It's frightening as hell, but it's fun to own alternative activities to keep my creative brain cooking."TEN SCREENWRITERS To Check Out 2011:Josh Applebaum & Andrew Nemec Jay Baruchel & Jesse Chabot Justin Britt-Gibson Neil Mix Andrew Haigh Kurt Johnstad Lauryn Kahn Paula Pell Jon Spaihts John Yorkey Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com