It looks like James Franco is back in the comic book movie business. After playing Harry Osborn in three Spider-Man films, Franco is taking on the title character for Marvel’s Multiple Man for Fox.
The studio is developing the project with Wonder Woman writer Allan Heinberg writing the script and Simon Kinberg producing. Multiple Man is a character from the X-Men universe which is still under control by Fox and Kinberg has overseen all the other X-Men projects with the studio.
In the comics, Multiple Man is Jamie Madrox, who developed his cloning powers at birth when a second, identical version of him appeared after the doctor slapped the infant to get him to breathe. As an adult he is fitted with a suit designed by Professor Charles Xavier to control his powers. Eventually the suit malfunctions and Madrox begins to go crazy which resulted in many collisions with the X-Men and the Fantastic Four.
The film is born out of another collaboration between Franco and Kinberg. Another project on their docket is The Hardy Men, which Kinberg scripted and is being scripted by Rodney Rothman as a potential star vehicle for both James and Dave Franco who would play older versions of The Hardy Boys.
As for Fox, they have been moving full steam ahead with many Marvel projects which include The New Mutants, Deadpool 2, X-Men: Dark Phoenix & Gambit all on the way.
