James Franco scraps Broadway debut

Los Angeles: Oscar-nominated actor James Franco, who was set to star opposite Nicole Kidman in his first Broadway musical, has dropped out of the project.

The 33-year-old actor has dropped out of the planned Broadway production of the Tennessee Williams play `Sweet Bird of Youth`, which revolves around former movie actress Princess Kosmonopolis and a drifter, Chance Wayne, who uses her as he attempts to get her back to making films. David Cromer, who has helmed `Our Town and The Adding Machine`, is set to direct the production, The Hollywood Reporter said. The original Broadway production, nominated for several Tony Awards, was produced in March 1959 and was directed by Elia Kazan. Paul Newman, Geraldine Page and Sidney Blackmer were among its stars. Franco who is studying at Yale to earn his doctorate in English, most recently starred in the prequel `Rise of the Planet of the Apes` and the raunchy comedy `Your Highness`. He is currently filming `Oz: The Great and the Powerful`, and has several films in various stages of production. PTI