Trailer for James Franco's AS I LAY DYING

Here's the first trailer for James Franco's new film As I Lay Dying, which he not only stars in, but also wrote and directed. The film is based on William Faulkner's classic novel, and I imagine this wasn't an easy book to adapt. The story is told in a "stream of consciousness writing style by 15 different narrators in 59 chapters. It is the story of the death of Addie Bundren and her family's quest and motivations—noble or selfish—to honor her wish to be buried in the town of Jefferson."

Franco is a multitalented guy. He has dabbled in all things entertainment, such as big blockbuster films, low budget art house films, art projects, teaching, writing novels, and more. I'm sure he welcomed the challenge of adapting this novel, and it looks like it could prove to be a great film. 

Set in 1930s Mississippi, the movie also stars Danny McBride, Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother Where Art Thou), Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus), Jim Parrack (True Blood), and Ahna O'Reilly. 

AS I LAY DYING is an upcoming drama film directed by and starring James Franco, based on the book by William Faulkner and charts the story of the Bundren family and their attempts to bury Addie Bundren in the town of Jefferson. It has been selected to be screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Franco himself stars as Darl Bundren, the son of a woman who has recently died, and whose family is attempting to honor her wish of being buried in a town forty miles away from the family home. Tim Blake Nelson plays the widowed patriarch and Franco’s father, while Jim Parrack (True Blood) plays one of his brothers. Danny McBride, who previously co-starred with Franco in the extreme stoner comedy “Pineapple Express,” Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) and Ahna O’Reilly (The Help) also star in the film.

The movie will premiere at The Cannes Film Festival later this month.