Free Women's Blog

Sean Penn is set to play the role of the late literary editor Max Perkins in a new film, Genius.

The Academy Award-winning actor is in discussions for the lead role in ‘Genius’, a biopic about Perkins, who was editor of such writer as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, or Thomas Wolfe.

The movie will be set on his working relationship with Wolfe, with Bill Pohlad directing the movie. Pohlad worked with Penn on previous movies, such as ‘Into the Wild’ and is considered able to convince the ‘Milk’ star to sign up for the project.

Similar to ‘Genius’ it was recently disclosed that Penn is also in discussions for the role of surfing legend Dorian ‘Doc’ Paskowitz.

The actor, 49, will be the producer of the film about the eccentric Paskowitz and his family, and is eager to take on the lead role.

Sean Penn pleaded not guilty to vandalism on Wednesday in a case in which the Academy Award-winning actor recorded on tape kicking a celebrity photographer. The plea was entered by his attorney, as Penn was in the court. He was sentenced to three years of probation and to perform 300 hours of community service.

City attorney’s spokesman Frank Mateljan said the 300 hours can be served through the actor’s earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Penn is also required to follow 36 hours of anger management counseling and stay 100 yards away from the photographer.

The actor’s attorney Richard Hirsch said, “Prolonging this matter in the court system would not have been in Mr. Penn’s best interests and would have distracted from his charitable commitments, specifically his work in Haiti. Accordingly he has decided to accept the terms and move on.”

The photographer, Jordan Dawes, has filed a suit against Penn in civil court and the case remains active.

Until this case, Penn, 49, has stayed away from trouble after numerous confrontations with photographers and the law in the 1980s.