James Franco To Direct Faulkner's 'As I Lay Dying'

He's already an actor, Ph.D student and Oscar emcee, but James Franco will next add "director" to his list.

"This summer I'm going to direct a movie based on William Faulkner's novel As I Lay Dying," the 127 Hours star said at the Sundance Film Festival, according to MTV News.

Franco added, "I shoot a test of the whole movie before I make a movie. So we just shot a test." He reportedly shot through the entire 160-page script with his actors in North Carolina on New Year's Day.

The actor hasn't committed to starring in his own film, but he said that he is aiming for Boardwalk Empire star Michael Shannon in the lead role. Also rumored to appear in the film are There Will Be Blood star Paul Dano, Six Feet Under's Richard Jenkins and Joaquin Phoenix. —ISHITA SINGH