James Franco confirms Hollywood return for 'big studio movie' after 10 years out of spotlight
James Franco says that he hasn't been hiding away from Hollywood, as he confirms plans to feature in a 'big studio movie'.
Earlier this week, the Pineapple Express actor was spotted walking the red carpet at the annual French film festival alongside long-term Izabel Pakzad for a screening of the movie The Electric Kiss.
And now Franco has revealed that he wasn't attending Cannes just to watch movies either, as the 48-year-old told Deadline that he has an upcoming role in an undisclosed Hollywood production.
The actor didn't provide any further details regarding the project, but said it was unlikely to hit our screens this year, adding: "It won’t be ready for this summer, but my guess is it will be end of this year or spring-summer 2027."
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However, Franco did confirm that he considered it his 'studio picture' since 2017's The Disaster Artist.
The comments come after Franco appeared to have been 'cast out' of the entertainment world after a series of scandals which unfolded over the years.
Why has James Franco been 'cast out' of Hollywood?
In 2018, the Los Angeles Times published an article accusing Franco of sexual misconduct, after five former students from his acting school alleged that he'd acted in a sexually inappropriate manner towards them.
All five women were either students of Franco’s or he was serving as their mentor.
Franco was later sued by two students in 2019, with the case ultimately being settled outside of court in 2021.
The actor also admitted to sleeping with the women in 2021 during an episode of the Jess Cagle Podcast, saying it ‘was wrong’.
He went on to say: "I suppose at the time, my thinking was: If it's consensual, it's okay."
Following the lawsuit, as well as claims made about Franco's conduct by Busy Phillips and Ally Sheedy, the actor has been seldom seen in Hollywood in the years since.
However, Franco rejected suggestions that he'd been 'hiding away' from Hollywood, noting that he'd appeared at the film festival in 2024 and 2025.
"It’s not true I’ve been hiding out," he told the outlet.
"I’ve been here the last three or four years running, selling things and they treat me well and I get to go and see great movies."
When asked if he felt like he'd been treated unfairly by the industry, the 127 Hours actor added: "I don’t know. What am I going to do? I just go forward and try to live a positive life."
Topics: James Franco, Entertainment, Film, Celebrity
Brenna Cooper