Considering the dazzling assortment of projects that multi-hyphenate/total lunatic James Franco gets involved with, tossing around the term “passion project” as it applies to any of them might be a bit moot – after all, the guy seems to be passionate about everything he does (including directing commercials for phones or pulling guest gigs on soap operas). Yet, Franco does seem to have a deep love for his next project – directing an adaptation of William Faulkner‘s “As I Lay Dying” from his own script. Showbiz411 passes on word that the project will start filming this October in Mississippi. Showbiz411 also first reported the news that Franco had penned a script for the project and was looking to direct it way back in January of 2011. At that time, the rumored cast included Paul Dano, Michael Shannon, Joaquin Phoenix, and Richard Jenkins, all big talents that would contribute to telling a classic story that is memorably told in a number of different voices and from different perspectives. Of course, the months-long delay for the film has meant that most of it has been recast (though Franco himself is still expected to have a small role in the film), and the current slate of talent is not nearly as impressive as the first round.

Despite it’s truly awful title, Joshua Michael Stern’s indie biopic of Steve Jobs is going to continue to get attention. Despite Ashton Kutcher‘s lack of dramatic chops (as far as we can tell), he does bear a striking resemblance to the young Apple founder. So despite itself, there may be plenty to talk about in the months to come as jOBS continues its production. Today brings a number of new photos from the set, including looks at Josh Gad as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak; Ahna O’Reilly as Jobs’ girlfriend Chris-Ann Brennan; Lukas Haas as early Apple employee Daniel Kottke; and Dermot Mulroney as former Apple CEO Mike Markkula, who will ultimately serve as the villain of this particular story.