PHOTO: James Franco is teasing the Sundance premiere of his new film by teasing co-stars Zachary Quinto and twink cutie Charlie Carver in a steamy hot shirtless pic of them sucking face and going at it.

Perhaps the most controversial movie at this year’s Sundance Film Festival is I Am Michael, which stars James Franco as Michael Glatze, the prominent gay rights activist who became a Christian, turned against his old allies, and declared that he was no longer gay.

 A remarkably even-handed account of outspoken gay-rights journalist Michael Glatze’s 180-degree identity reversal, which shocked friends and admirers after he found religion, rejected his queer “lifestyle” and became a Christian pastor.

While admirable in its seeming impartiality, Justin Kelly’s hot-potato directorial debut won’t be seen by many beyond the arthouse and festival circuit, but it will nevertheless rile viewers and provoke discussion on all sides, simply because it cuts to the heart of the self-doubt, fear and prejudice associated with modern homosexuality.

Kelly clearly wants to be as fair as possible to the facts, which found their way to him via executive producer Gus Van Sant. The “Milk” director had read a story in the New York Times called “My Ex-Gay Friend,” written by Benoit Denizet-Lewis, one of Glatze’s former colleagues at XY magazine. The world is full of stories of young people who have gone through anti-gay conversion (or “reparative”) therapy, though Glatze’s case is unique in that he had been a vocal activist for gay teens, serving as managing editor of XY as a means of reaching other confused young men who might otherwise be depressed or suicidal without positive gay imagery and role models.

(Read more at Variety)

Zachary Quinto stars opposite Franco as Bennett, Glatze’s longtime boyfriend. SLATE  asked the openly gay actor (who was joined for the interview by producer Neal Dodson) whether he’d had an opportunity to meet Glatze and his ex-boyfriend, and why he wanted to make a movie about the controversial figure.