James Franco: 'Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens hungry for indie films'

James Franco has praised Selena Gomez's performance in Spring Breakers.

The Harmony Korine-directed film, which stars Franco, Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson, focuses on a group of college girls who become entangled with a drug and arms dealer.

James Franco 2012 Tribeca Film Festival - 'Francophrenia (Or: Don't Kill Me, I Know Where The Baby Is)' premiere - Arrivals New York City, USA

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Selena Gomez - new hair

"I thought Harmony was so smart to cast [Gomez], Vanessa and Ashley because it seemed like they were so hungry for some deeper kind of material, hungry for indie material," Franco told E! Online.

"They really gave their all when they were acting," he added. "You've got great performances."

He went on to say that Korine was also attracted to casting popular celebrities in an indie film.

"They other thing that [Korine] got was this crazy fusion of high pop and like dirty indie sensibilities," Franco continued. "I think that is going to be very powerful."

Gomez recently said that Spring Breakers is "completely different" to any film of which she's ever been a part.

> Selena Gomez shows off new look for upcoming movie - pictures

Spri! ng Break ers will be released in 2013.