James Franco’s Italian Drama ‘Hey Joe’ Directed by Claudio Giovannesi Sets U.S. Release Date – Watch the Trailer Now
EXCLUSIVE: The Italian drama Hey Joe, featuring James Franco, is set for a domestic theatrical and Video on Demand (VOD) release this month under Studio Dome.
Directed by Claudio Giovannesi, the film will debut in select theaters starting March 20, beginning with a special screening at LOOK Cinemas, which will include a Q&A session with Franco.
The story centers on Dean Barry (Franco), an American World War II veteran who returns to Naples in the early 1970s upon discovering he has a son he has never met. Francesco Di Napoli stars as Enzo, Dean’s estranged son, alongside Giulia Ercolini, Aniello Arena, and Giada Savi.
The film was shot on location in Naples, Procida, Taranto, and Pizzo, produced by Palomar in collaboration with Rai Cinema and Vision Distribution. The screenplay was written by Giovannesi, Maurizio Braucci, and Massimo Gaudioso, featuring cinematography by Daniele Ciprì and editing by Giuseppe Trepiccione.
Previously, Hey Joe was acquired by Glass House Distribution last year; however, following the acquisition of the company by Shaked Berenson’s Studio Dome, Tom Malloy, CEO of Glass House, became Studio Dome’s COO. Additionally, domestic labels Entertainment Squad and PrideFlix were included in the acquisition.
The film premiered at the Rome Film Festival in 2024, followed by its theatrical release in Italy shortly thereafter.
“Hey Joe is a powerful story about connection and second chances,” stated director Claudio Giovannesi. “We’re excited for audiences in the U.S. to discover it.”
