LOS ANGELES — Adult film star James Deen has landed the lead role opposite Hollywood bad girl Lindsay Lohan in the upcoming mainstream film "The Canyons," according to screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis.
Ellis on Monday night announced the news via his Twitter feed @BretEastonEllis.
"And I am beyond thrilled that James Deen and Lindsay Lohan will be playing the parts of Christian and Tara in 'The Canyons' by BEE," Ellis said.
Ellis followed that tweet with another about the shoot dates, July 9-31 in L.A., adding, "Could not have dreamed of a better cast. Lindsay nailed it..."
Deen had no comment on Monday night when reached by XBIZ.
The film, which will be directed by Paul Schrader, is being billed as a contemporary thriller about "youth, glamour, sex and Los Angeles, circa 2012."
Ellis, the notorious author of books such as "American Psycho" and "Less Than Zero," made it known publicly for several months that Deen was his first choice to play the part of Christian, who is described as "a handsome, fit, power player and major manipulator" who enjoys filming himself having kinky sex.
Deen, a 26-year-old native of Pasadena, Calif., who is in his eighth year as one of porn's elite performers, is the 2010 XBIZ Male Performer of the Year and a veteran of more than 2000 sex scenes.
The role of Christian is said to call for full-frontal nudity.
According to the film's Facebook page, Schrader and Ellis are teaming with producer Braxton Pope (Lionsgate) to finance "The Canyons."
"We came to the same point at the same time," Schrader said. "We all experienced the frustrations of financing and institutional censorship. But now, with advances in digital photography and distribution, we can tell a story in the manner we choose. Movies are changing and we're changing with it."
Schrader is best known for writing classics such as "Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” and “American Gigolo," which he also directed.
To see a recent XBIZ TV interview with Deen in which he talks about Ellis and possibly landing the role, click here.
