In a recent conversation with Deadline, James Franco pushed back against the idea that he vanished from Hollywood after years of controversy, insisting he has remained active in independent filmmaking and international markets even as studio opportunities slowed dramatically.
James Franco Says Cannes Was Never a Comeback
Appearing at the Cannes Film Festival alongside longtime partner Izabel Pakzad, Franco spoke openly about returning to the studio system with an upcoming large scale feature already completed and expected to arrive sometime between late 2026 and 2027. While he declined to identify the project, he described it as his first true studio production since “The Disaster Artist.”
The actor strongly rejected the idea that his recent presence at Cannes represented a dramatic reemergence after years out of sight. “It’s not true I’ve been hiding out, 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,” Franco said during the festival. In recent years, he has continued working on smaller productions and international titles while largely remaining outside mainstream Hollywood releases.
The project Franco brought to Cannes this year was “Foster,” an 1980s-set thriller directed by Timothy Woodward Jr. in which he stars and serves as producer. The film centers on a troubled veteran pulled into criminal activity after returning to the United States.
Franco’s career slowed considerably after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced in 2018 involving former acting students and collaborators. In 2021, lawsuits connected to his now closed acting school were settled for more than $2 million, while Franco later acknowledged having sexual relationships with students.
Asked whether he believes he was treated unfairly during the fallout, Franco offered a restrained response. “What am I going to do? I just go forward and try to live a positive life,” he said, later adding, “I just try to be the best person I can be… I think I was put on this planet to make movies. I try to make movies the best I can and it’s kinda like all I can do.”
