Well, you couldn’t say that James Franco lacks ambition. Fresh from his multimedia art, beatnik novel, appearance in General Hospital and time spent running a pop-up art store, the actor has announced his intention to film an adaptation of James Elroy’s absurdly complex novel American Tabloid.

A vast conspiracy tale, driving the characters towards the assassination of President Kennedy, the book has resisted several previous attempts at adaptation. Both Bruce Willis and Tom Hanks threatened to develop mini-series based on the profane, paranoid text, but never managed to tame the beast. Franco has, however, confirmed that he feels up to the challenge.

“It’s not all put together yet,” he told MTV. “ It’s still early. You’re getting the scoop.”

Franco’s last film as director, an experimental piece called Interior. Leather Bar, triggered much puzzlement (and some admiration) at last year’s Berlin Film Festival.