James Franco is in talks to direct and star "as the prolific children's book author, cartoonist and lyricist Shel Silverstein," based on Lisa Rogak's book A Boy Named Shel, Deadline reported. The film will be written by Chris Shafer and Paul Vicknair, focusing on the personal and professional struggles of Silverstein. Deadline noted that "like Silverstein, Franco has established himself as an artist on multiple platforms, and he sparked to the drama of Silverstein's journey and the humor that is part of it."
