On the heels of selling their Sundance movie “Goat” to Paramount, James Franco, Andrew Neel, and Killer Films are set to re-team for an adaption of David Kushner’s Rolling Stone article “Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted,” it was announced Thursday.
Franco will direct the “Zola” movie from a script by Neel and Mike Roberts.
Franco and Vince Jolivette are producing through their Rabbit Bandini Productions with Killer Films’ Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa as well as Gigi Films’ Gia Walsh and Kara Baker. Walsh previously executive produced “The Fixer” starring Franco and produced by Rabbit Bandini.
Kushner’s exclusive account of Aziah “Zola” Wells’ 148-tweet story about a wild road trip to Florida with her friend Jessica, Jessica’s boyfriend and Jessica’s violent pimp “Z,” was published by Rolling Stone in November.
Franco, Neel, and Killer Films most recently collaborated on “Goat,” a movie about fraternity hazing that was directed by Neel and produced by Franco, who also has a small role in the film. “Goat” premiered to strong reviews at Sundance and was recently acquired by Paramount Home Media.
CAA, which represents Franco, Neel, Kushner and Killer Films, will represent domestic distribution rights to “Zola Tells All.”
Franco, who is wrapping up a movie about the making of the cult classic “The Room” titled “The Disaster Artist,” is also represented by Untitled Entertainment and Sloane Offer. Neel is also repped by Washington Square Films.