James Franco Almost Played Rihanna's Love Interest in "We Found Love"

USMagazine, Thursday, April 26, 2012, 12:30pm (PDT)

James Franco has played everything from a stoner to a prince, but he missed out on the opportunity to play Rihanna's love interest in her 2011 music video for "We Found Love."

"She actually asked me to be in that video, the one with the relationship that gets crazy," Franco, 34, tells MTV. "I couldn't do it. But, I guess, I hope that that means there's mutual love between us."

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Model Dudley O'Shaughnessy -- who bears a striking resemblance to Rihanna's abusive ex Chris Brown -- was cast in the actor's place.

Franco recently payed homage to the singer by lip-syncing her hit "You Da One" and uploading the video to YouTube. "It didn't take a lot of work," he confessed. "But I do like Rihanna."

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According to the Oscar-nominated actor, Rihanna may appear alongside him in  The Apocalypse, starring Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Jay Baruchel. Co-written and co-directed by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the film centers around a group of celebrities partying at Franco's house when they learn the end of the world is near.

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"I think she's gonna be in the new movie that I'm doing, Seth Rogen's directorial debut," Franco tells MTV of Rihanna, 24. "I think she has a little part in that."

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: James Franco Almost Played Rihanna's Love Interest in "We Found Love"