[1] We reported a few months ago that James Franco had optioned Michael Gregg Michaud's biography of Rebel Without a Cause star Sal Mineo, with the intention of writing and directing (but not acting in) a biopic about the actor. Now it looks like he's found his star. Val Lauren has been cast as the lead in the film, which is currently going by the title Sal. Michaud's book Sal Mineo: A Biography deals with Mineo's rise to fame, his conflicted sexuality, and his tragic murder at the age of 37. Lauren expressed his excitement about the role to The Hollywood Reporter: Sal Mineo himself was an extraordinary and super complex guy... People know him for Rebel Without a Cause, but he was technically the first actor who came out of the closet. He was very brave. Lauren's past credits include Dallas 362, The Salton Sea, and the short film Help,...
- 5/11/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Filed under: Movie News
Sal Mineo is finally going to get his due.
Last year James Franco optioned the rights to Michael Gregg Michaud's 'Sal Mineo: A Biography,' and he's now moving ahead with the production -- tentatively titled 'Sal' -- having adapted the script and, now, having picked an actor to play the lead: Val Lauren. Lauren's credits include the 2003 indie film 'Dallas 362' and 'Help', a short film he wrote, directed and produced.
The film tells the story of the sensitive actor best known for his role as John "Plato" Crawford opposite James Dean in 'Rebel Without a Cause.' Mineo was nominated for an Oscar for that 1955 film and for his role in 'Exodus' in 1960. He was murdered in West Hollywood in 1976 at the age of 37.
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Sal Mineo is finally going to get his due.
Last year James Franco optioned the rights to Michael Gregg Michaud's 'Sal Mineo: A Biography,' and he's now moving ahead with the production -- tentatively titled 'Sal' -- having adapted the script and, now, having picked an actor to play the lead: Val Lauren. Lauren's credits include the 2003 indie film 'Dallas 362' and 'Help', a short film he wrote, directed and produced.
The film tells the story of the sensitive actor best known for his role as John "Plato" Crawford opposite James Dean in 'Rebel Without a Cause.' Mineo was nominated for an Oscar for that 1955 film and for his role in 'Exodus' in 1960. He was murdered in West Hollywood in 1976 at the age of 37.
Continue Reading...
- 5/11/2011
- by Harley W. Lond
- Moviefone
Val Lauren ("Dallas 362") has joined the cast of "Sal", a biopic of enigmatic young actor Sal Mineo which James Franco will direct says The Hollywood Reporter.
Based on Michael Gregg Michaud's biography, Mineo rose to fame for his Oscar-nominated supporting actor role in James Dean's most famous work "Rebel Without a Cause" in 1955. He was usually typecast as a troubled teen and later a deranged criminal, but garnered praise for his performances (and a second Oscar nomination for "Exodus").
He was also gay and was thought to be the first actor to have come out of the closet. At the age of 37, Mineo was stabbed to death in the alley behind his apartment building by a thief and pizza deliveryman who had committed numerous robberies in the area
Franco adapted the script and will produce through his Rabbit Bandini company, though will not appear in the film...
Based on Michael Gregg Michaud's biography, Mineo rose to fame for his Oscar-nominated supporting actor role in James Dean's most famous work "Rebel Without a Cause" in 1955. He was usually typecast as a troubled teen and later a deranged criminal, but garnered praise for his performances (and a second Oscar nomination for "Exodus").
He was also gay and was thought to be the first actor to have come out of the closet. At the age of 37, Mineo was stabbed to death in the alley behind his apartment building by a thief and pizza deliveryman who had committed numerous robberies in the area
Franco adapted the script and will produce through his Rabbit Bandini company, though will not appear in the film...
- 5/11/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
James Franco played his look-alike James Dean in Mark Rydell‘s 2001 TV biopic and now he is taking on another related project. Though, he won’t be starring in the film and it won’t be focused on James Dean. Instead, he will direct a biopic on one of Dean’s most memorable costars, Sal Mineo, who starred in Rebel Without a Cause with the famous actor. THR now lets us know who will play Mineo.
Val Lauren has taken on the role. The relatively unknown actor will appear on the Hawaii Five-0 season finale and has also been seen in Dallas 362 and his short film Help, which he is turning into a feature. The Mineo biopic will be based on Sal Mineo: A Biography by Michael Gregg Michaud and adapted by Franco himself. Like Dean, Mineo’s life was also ended early, being murdered at 37. The gay actor...
Val Lauren has taken on the role. The relatively unknown actor will appear on the Hawaii Five-0 season finale and has also been seen in Dallas 362 and his short film Help, which he is turning into a feature. The Mineo biopic will be based on Sal Mineo: A Biography by Michael Gregg Michaud and adapted by Franco himself. Like Dean, Mineo’s life was also ended early, being murdered at 37. The gay actor...
- 5/11/2011
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
James Franco Will Direct, But Won't Be Starring In The Film Bookies could make serious money laying odds on which of the many James Franco-associated projects will go in front of cameras first. It always seems to be a bit of a surprise, and today's news is definitely a bit out of left field. THR reports that the Sal Mineo biopic that first landed Franco's attention late last year, is now moving forward. The actor/director/awards show host/soap opera star/student has cast the little known Val Lauren ("Dallas 362") in the titular lead role of "Sal." Based on the book “Sal…...
- 5/11/2011
- The Playlist
Val Lauren has been cast as Sal Mineo in James Franco's upcoming biopic tentatively titled Sal. The film tells the story of the enigmatic actor best known for his appearance opposite James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. The project is being produced by Franco under his Rabbit Bandini banner. Filming is slated to star early this summer in Los Angeles. It has been adapted for the screen by Franco from a recently released biography of Mineo by Michael Gregg Michaud. Lauren starred in the indie Dallas 362 and the short film Help, which he wrote, directed and produced. Franco will not be starring in the film like has been speculated.
Mineo (who was gay) broke ground for his portrayal of a homosexual character named John "Plato" Crawford in Rebel. He was murdered in Hollywood at the age of 37 after being nominated for two supporting actor Oscar's for his roles in Rebel and Exodus.
Mineo (who was gay) broke ground for his portrayal of a homosexual character named John "Plato" Crawford in Rebel. He was murdered in Hollywood at the age of 37 after being nominated for two supporting actor Oscar's for his roles in Rebel and Exodus.
- 5/11/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Stop me if you've heard this one before. A womanizing cad doesn't believe in true love, even though he makes his living writing novels about it. He sleeps with one beautiful woman after another, never getting attached, always pleased when the women leave before he wakes up in the morning. But his whole world is turned upside-down when, out of nowhere, he actually falls in love with one of them.
Yes, it's the ol' "education of a douchebag" story, going by the title Mercy this time around and starring Scott Caan, who also wrote the screenplay. (It's actually his third script; he directed the other two himself, and the first, Dallas 362, won the jury prize at CineVegas in 2003.) One is tempted to find autobiographical elements in Caan's swaggering character, especially since his real-life father, James Caan, plays his dad in the movie, but I don't know if that's accurate.
Yes, it's the ol' "education of a douchebag" story, going by the title Mercy this time around and starring Scott Caan, who also wrote the screenplay. (It's actually his third script; he directed the other two himself, and the first, Dallas 362, won the jury prize at CineVegas in 2003.) One is tempted to find autobiographical elements in Caan's swaggering character, especially since his real-life father, James Caan, plays his dad in the movie, but I don't know if that's accurate.
- 6/18/2009
- by Eric D. Snider
- Cinematical
Selma Blair will star opposite Ron Perlman in Revolution Studios' big-screen adaptation of Dark Horse Comics' Hellboy for writer-director Guillermo Del Toro. Production begins in March in Prague with a 2004 release planned through Columbia Pictures. Hellboy (Perlman) is a red-faced hero born in the flames of hell and brought to the world through a pagan ritual. Saved by his friend and mentor, Dr. Broom, Hellboy was raised in the doctor's Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense alongside other characters, including a merman named Abe Sapien; Liz Sherman (Blair), a woman who can psychically control fire; and Myers, an FBI agent who is Hellboy's rival for Liz's affections. Together, the heroes must come to terms with their fantastic powers, which prove to be a blessing and a curse. In the process, they discover that their abilities serve to benefit mankind but also may keep them forever isolated from the society that only they can protect. Lloyd Levin, Larry Gordon and Mike Richardson are producing the project, with Patrick Palmer executive producing. Rick Baker is providing special effects for the film. Blair, repped by ICM, most recently appeared in The Sweetest Thing. She next stars in MGM's A Guy Thing and the indie feature Dallas and Rusty, directed by and starring Scott Caan.
- 12/4/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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