Multi-multi-multi-hyphenate James Franco has reportedly agreed to direct a movie about stripper Azia ‘Zola’ Wells, who gained attention after tweeting about an epic and dangerous road trip to Florida.
The project is being developed by Franco, Andrew Neel and Killer Films, reports Variety. Neel and Mike Roberts wrote the script, which is based on David Kushner’s November Rolling Stone story about Wells’ adventure.
Producers are Franco and Vince Jolivette of Rabbit Bandini; Killer Films’ Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa; and Gigi Films’ Gia Walsh and KAra Baker.
Zolla’s story began in October, when she told Twitter users, “Okay listen up. This story long. So I met this white bitch at Hooters.” She then went on a bizarre road trip with the “white bitch” named Jessica, her boyfriend and a violent Nigerian pimp named “Z,” who was later charged with sexual assault and sex trafficking in Nevada, notes Rolling Stone.
The story involves deceit and murder, and it even began trending worldwide as #TheStory. You can see a screenshot of the whole saga here. “It reads like Spring Breakers meets Pulp Fiction, as told by Nicki Minaj,” Kushner wrote.
Franco is currently directing The Disaster Artist, a movie about the making of the notoriously bad movie The Room. He also directed In Dubious Battle and As I Lay Dying in between acting gigs.