James Franco Will Teach You How To Pick Up Women In Brian Koppelman & David Levien’s ‘The Game’

It turns out not everything James Franco does in 2012 will be some kind of elaborate performance piece. The actor and artist has landed a pretty interesting new film, one that will find him in full command of his skills with the ladies.

THR reports that Franco has taken the lead role in "The Game," the latest from "Solitary Man" writing and directing pair Brian Koppelman and David Levien. First signing on to the project over the summer, Koppelman and Levien have made quick work adapting Neil Strauss' breakout bestseller, a book that is part memoir and part exposé, chronicling the author's own adventures in the guys club world of pick-up artists and his experiences and successes with the techniques he learned in how to score with women. Helping him on his journey is Mystery, the man who teaches Strauss and many others all of his secrets on how to go from nerd to stud, and that's the role Franco will play.

"The Game" has been something of a pop culture phenomenon, even spawning a VH1 reality show and normally, we'd think nothing more of this than an easy and tawdry excuse to make a movie. But Koppelman and Levien are the guys behind "Rounders," "Ocean's Thirteen" and "The Girlfriend Experience," so they know how to write sharp and smart, and we're optimistic they've found a clever way into the material. But even if not, we can't wait to see Franco dressed up as some sort of bastard child between Bono and Tommy Lee (seriously look at the videos below). If this guy is getting laid on the regular, he must be doing something right.