James Franco to direct 'As I Lay Dying' with Danny McBride starring

James Franco recently wrapped filming his adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's "Child of God," and now he's moving on to direct his next project -- an adaptation of the William Faulkner classic "As I Lay Dying." 

iFilm reports that Franco has cast Danny McBride, Tim Blake Nelson, Logan Marshall-Green, Jim Parrack, and Ahna O'Reilly in his film version of the 1930 novel.

The book tells the story of the terminally ill Addie Bundren and the preparations for her death. As it's told from the point of view of fifteen different characters over the course of the story, we can expect plenty more casting announcements from the Franco camp in the coming weeks.

Franco's adaptation will be the first, as no one has previously secured the film rights to the book. Filming is expected to begin this Autumn. In the meantime, Franco is keeping himself busy working on a film adaptation of William Friedkin's gay murder mystery, "Cruising."