Howl, a 1950s-era biopic, focusing on the obscenity trial held to censor Allen Ginsberg's groundbreaking book-length poem, has been cast. James Franco was already set to play Ginsberg and now he’ll be joined by David Strathairn, Alan Alda, Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker and Paul Rudd.

The project was actually spearheaded by the Allen Ginsberg Trust, which wanted to make a film commemorating the 50th anniversary of Howl. Among the real-life characters featured in the film are prosecuting attorney Ralph McIntosh (Strathairn), Judge Clayton Horn (Alda), prosecution witness Professor David Kirk (Daniels), radio personality and prosecution witness Gail Potter (Parker) and literary critic and defense witness Luther Nichols (Rudd).

This will be a unique project, as graphic novelist and Ginsberg collaborator Eric Drooker will create an animated reimagining of Howl. Carter Burwell will write an original score.