Dec 5, 2007 - The cast of Gus Van Sant's Milk movie is about to grow by three. James Franco, Emile Hirsch and Josh Brolin are all close to signing on to star with Sean Penn in the Harvey Milk biopic.
Production on the Focus Features/Groundswell Productions film is expected to begin in January. If the deals go through, Brolin would be taking on the role of the man who murdered Harvey Milk, Dan White. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Franco's playing Milk's lover/campaign manager, Scott Smith. Hirsch would be joining the cast as Cleve Jones, a friend of Milk's and fellow gay rights activist.
If Hirsch does join Milk, the actor would be reuniting with his Into the Wild director Sean Penn. Hirsch's starring turn as Christopher McCandless in Penn's Into the Wild, based on true events, has generated awards buzz. Hirsch recently wrapped filming on Speed Racer for the Wachowski Brothers.
Brolin's coming off a super busy 2007. His recent films include American Gangster, In the Valley of Elah, and No Country for Old Men.
Franco will next be seen in Pineapple Express with Seth Rogen.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
