James Franco Talks About Living Positively and His First Studio Movie Role in Ten Years at Cannes Despite Tech Glitches
James Franco Discusses Upcoming Film at Palm Beach Festival
James Franco recently shared insights about an undisclosed film he has completed, revealing that while it won’t be released this summer, he anticipates a debut by the end of the year or in spring-summer 2027. "It won’t be ready for this summer, but my guess is it will be end of this year or spring-summer 2027," Franco stated.
Franco expressed enthusiasm for discussing the project, noting that his last work classified as a studio picture was The Disaster Artist, released in 2017. He explained, “That was New Line, and then they let us sell it to A24.”
The actor made these comments during the official festival dinner in Palm Beach, which he attended alongside his partner, filmmaker Izabel Pakzad.
Franco, who is known for movies such as 127 Hours and Pineapple Express, has seen a decrease in studio films following a 2021 legal settlement involving allegations of sexual misconduct from former acting students. However, he insists he has not been absent from the industry; this marks the fourth consecutive year he has had films at the Cannes market.
This year, he is involved in the thriller Foster, not only starring in the film but also serving as a producer. Directed by Timothy Woodward Jr., Foster had its market screening on Monday. Franco expressed particular excitement about filming in Los Angeles, describing it as “unusual these days,” and likening the project to “a fun, grind-house-style action thing” set in the 1980s.
In the film, Franco portrays the titular character, a veteran drawn into a troublesome situation upon returning to the United States. Drawing inspiration from Robert Stone’s novel Dog Soldiers, he elaborated on his character’s struggles with past drug issues, stating, “Now he wants to get out. He’s clean but he’s still in debt and he has to do certain jobs that he doesn’t want to do.”
Franco strongly dismissed assertions that he has been hiding from the industry, remarking, “I’ve been here the last three or four years running, selling things, and they treat me well.” When asked if he feels he has been treated unfairly, he smiled and replied, “What am I going to do? I just go forward and try to live a positive life.”
As the Cannes festival continues, Franco aims to catch as many films as possible, identifying Ashes by Diego Luna and Club Kid by Jordan Firstman as key titles on his list.
Noise Disruption at The Electric Kiss Premiere
During the opening night premiere of Pierre Salvadori’s romantic comedy The Electric Kiss, a disruptive noise during the screening caused distress among attendees. Salvadori recounted the experience, stating, "I could hear this beep-beep and it went on for forty-five minutes, and I started to cry because nobody could stop it."
The filmmaker later discovered that the noise originated from a cable that had not been unplugged from a live TV broadcast. He expressed concern over the incident, noting that opening in Cannes requires simultaneous debuts across France, raising fears it could affect every film print. “It was the most agonizing time because I just didn’t know what it was,” he stated.
As the premiere continued, the frustration grew, but others quickly sought the noise’s source. Salvadori noted, “Somebody else got up and was looking for the source of the noise from minute one.”
Despite mixed critical reception for the film, Salvadori found positives and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to premiere at Cannes.
Highlights from the Festival
At a Palm Beach dinner event, guests included Jordan Firstman, who has penned, starred in, and directed the film Club Kid. The film, featured in the Un Certain Regard section, is set in New York and has received attention for its poignant portrayal of youth and club culture. Firstman humorously described the film’s unique vernacular surrounding narcotics, stating, “I say it’s a foreign language film because none of the words you’ve heard before.”
Attendees at the dinner included actress Maika Monroe, known for her role in the acclaimed horror film It Follows. Monroe, preparing to reprise her role in the upcoming sequel They Follow, conversed with fellow guests about the festival and their current projects.
As noted by many attendees, Cannes serves as a launching pad for emerging stories and talent, underscoring its significance in the film industry.
