Aron Ralston, the Colorado climber who saved himself from an epic rock-climbing accident by amputating his own right hand, has been the subject of international media fascination since he staggered out of his near-fatal situation in the desert and into the hands of rescuers. Known worldwide from Ralston’s book, Rock and a Hard Place, as well as a variety of television and print features, Ralston’s story will be told in film by Academy-award-winning director Danny Boyle, whose films include Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later, and Trainspotting. Entertainment Weekly now reports that James Franco has been cast to play Ralston in Boyle’s film. Franco, a Golden Globe nominee for his role in Pineapple Express, co-starred in the Spider-Man film trilogy as “Harry Osborn” and in Milk as “Scott Smith.”