James Franco bleached his hair for role as gay man turned Christian pastor

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- James Franco's new bleach-blond hair is part of the actor's transformation for his upcoming role as a gay activist turned straight, Christian pastor.

Michael is an upcoming drama based on a 2011 New York Times Magazine article about Michael Glatze, a college student in Wyoming who leaves his job at the gay publication, XY Magazine, to become a heterosexual pastor.

"This isn't just a story about an 'ex-gay.' It's actually a very relatable story about the power of belief and the desire to belong," said the film's director Justin Kelly.

Franco will star in the movie as the title character and Zachary Quinto and Emma Roberts are set to play his ex gay lover and girlfriend respectively.

Glatze said in July he is "excited" to see the build up of the film and for the great actors that have been cast to star in it.

"I'm grateful to God that he is going to get the glory in the midst of this movie and we are praying that it will be an honest movie," he told The Christian Post.

"I'm really not interested in any sort of activism about healing from homosexuality or ex-gay ministries, or anything along those lines and, also, I've completely bowed out of any sort of conservative Christian 'culture war.' I think it causes more harm than good," Glatze added.

Michael allegedly began shooting in New York City on Monday.