Deep Throat star Linda Lovelace’s story is such an enticing one for filmmakers. So enticing, in fact, that not one but two films are currently bubbling away in development about her life. But both have had problems locking down a cast, particularly for the prickly central role. Now, though, Howl directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s effort, Lovelace, has scored Amanda Seyfried to star.
Lovelace will chronicle the actress’ younger years, from her start as a fresh-faced Florida schoolgirl named Linda Boreman to her meeting with future husband Chuck Traynor and his decision to cast her in the controversial 1972 porn pic. Though the role made her an international sex star, she was also horribly victimized by Traynor and others, ending up quitting the business, divorcing him and putting her life on a more stable track until her tragic death in 2002.
Epstein and Friedman had lined up Kate Hudson and James Franco to play Lovelace and Traynor, but with Hudson pregnant, the schedule shifted, which meant Franco also departed. Peter Sarsgaard is in talks to take on the role instead.
The directing pair wants to start shooting in January, and they’ll face competition from Matthew Wilder’s film Inferno, which has Malin Akerman playing Linda (after Lindsay Lohan dropped out) and Matt Dillon as Traynor. 2012 could see the battle of the Lovelace biopics…