James Franco will star in the adaption of Me, You, based on Erri De Luca’s novel Tu, Mia. The post-World War II coming-of-age story will also star Tom Hollander (The Night Manager) and Daisy Jacob (Everything I Know About Love).
The story takes place on the Italian island of Ischia, just after World War II. A 16-year-old boy named Marco meets a U.S. GI turned fisherman Nicola (played by James Franco in the Me, You adaption). They sail around the Bay of Naples while Nicola tells stories about his time in the war and on the ocean. It turns darker when the boy becomes focused on a 20-year-old woman Caia (played by Jacob), a Holocaust survivor. It inspires Marco to take revenge, targeting a group of German tourists. Hollander will play Marco’s father, Edward.
Principle photography begins this September on location in Ischia. The film will be directed by Bille August (Les Misérables) and penned by Greg Latter (Goodbye Bafana). Sean O’Kelly, Marc Bikindou, Mark Hammond, Jad Ben Ammar, and Leo Maidenberg will produce.
James Franco Stars in Me, You Adaption
The Me, You adaption falls in a long line of projects for James Franco. After a few years since sexual misconduct allegations were raised against him and a lawsuit from film students of his film school for being forced to shoot explicit scenes, which he settled for over $2 million, he has gotten back into acting. His last release was in 2019 with Arctic Dogs.
Besides the Me, You adaption, he will be back to releasing consistent films. Coming next will be the upcoming thriller, Kill the Czar. Further out, he will star in another thriller with Mace, starring opposite Trevor Jackson (Grown-ish).
The logline for the novel reads, “Deeply tender and bittersweet, Me, You explores the raw beauty and tragedy of love, the age of innocence and the bitter realities of war.”
Regarding the project, the actor gave his thoughts on the director and the script.
