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James Franco Cast in Adaptation of Pick-Up Advice Book 'The Game'

by Alex Billington
January 6, 2012
Source: THR

I knew we would see this happen one day. If you're a guy you probably know of this book, it's called The Game, written by Neil Strauss, about how to pick up girls and the tricks of trade for meeting them and talking with them. It's a book that every guy knows and has read and subscribes to, for the most part, so I knew they'd somehow adapt it into a movie at some point. THR is reporting that MGM is developing the adaptation with none other than James Franco now set to star as Mystery, a man who is Strauss' pick-up artist teacher in the book. Solitary Man directors Brian Koppelman & David Levien are writing & directing.

The book, The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pick-up Artists was first published in 2005, written by Neil Strauss as a chronicle of his journey and encounters in the "seduction community". It's a popular book amongst guys and gained fame both upon its original release and when "The Pick-Up Artist", starring Mystery, aired on VH1 in '07. It doesn't sound like the Neil Strauss role has been cast yet, but THR does say Franco will play Mystery, a Canadian dating coach guru who teaches Strauss at a "Bootcamp" in the book.

The project was originally set up at Columbia with Chris Weitz attached to direct, then Spyglass picked it up with D.B. Weiss as a writer. Later, Lionsgate tried to develop an adaptation with Rawson Marshall Thurber attached to direct. Fox Searchlight has also considered it, but it's the reformed MGM who is now developing it. Chris and Paul Weitz are still attached as producers, while Brian Koppelman & David Levien (Solitary Man, Knockaround Guys) are writing and directing. I'm curious to see how this develops, who else they cast, and if it turns out any good. I'm worried it's going to be a bit too much like Tucker Max's I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, but I hope they can actually do this adaptation justice and make a great movie out of it.

Filed under Casting, Development, Movie News

From around the web:

http://twitter.com/Psycomonkey Anthony Lopez

aaaaaaand I just lost.
DAVIDPD

It could be awesome or just a big douchey douchefest.
http://shockya.com/ Monique Jones

oh boy. Franco's playing Mystery?! This just might be a comedy.
- Ciro
  
  Actually I think that it might work out. They do kinda look alike with the proper "peacocking" and Franco seems like a good actor. The book kinda hints at Mistery being somewhat of a problematic and unstable person. If franco is able to play that angle, it just might work.
Nathan Cook

Inb4 losing... oh wait. Too late.
Moviefilmfan

Flip a coin. It will be good or bad. I can see it being very similar to Crazy Stupid Love during the 20minutes or so of scenes with Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell. While watching that movie thats the first thing I thought of. The Game.
fanofTHEGAME

i hope it's not too informative otherwise everything i learned from The Game will become useless. All around in bars&clubs you'll hear:"You stole that from that movie". Heh, it was a good run while it lasted.
RTurner

i really hope this movie doesn't get published, otherwise all people learn will be in vein and especially those woman who is now a relationship with a guy used this technique will be probably upset