The Franco name used to be a guarantee. If you saw James Franco or Dave Franco on a poster, you knew exactly what you were getting: a mix of high-concept indie weirdness or that specific brand of "stoner" comedy that defined the late 2000s. They were the industry’s golden boys. One was the Oscar-nominated polymath who taught film classes and wrote poetry; the other was the charismatic younger brother who successfully dodged the "nepo-baby" labels to become a leading man in his own right.
But things look different in 2026.
If you’ve been paying attention to the trades lately, you might’ve noticed a weird gap. Dave is everywhere—directing, starring in massive sequels like Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, and winning over critics in indie dramas. Meanwhile, James has been described by some as "cast out" of the system he once dominated. It’s a strange, bifurcated reality for two brothers who used to be inseparable on screen.
The Fallout and the Distance
Honestly, you can’t talk about these two without addressing the elephant in the room. In 2018, everything changed for James. Following sexual misconduct allegations from five women—mostly former students at his now-closed acting school, Studio 4—his career didn't just slow down; it basically hit a brick wall.
He settled a lawsuit in 2021 for $2.23 million, and since then, the silence has been loud.
What’s even more jarring is the collapse of the "Pineapple Express" crew. For years, James and Seth Rogen were the ultimate Hollywood bromance. That’s dead now. James recently admitted that he and Rogen haven’t spoken in years, saying the friendship is "over" despite his efforts to reach out.
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So where does that leave Dave?
It’s gotta be awkward. Dave is still very much "in" with the old crew. In 2025, he even starred in Rogen’s Apple TV+ series, The Studio. Imagine the family dinners. Your brother is essentially blacklisted by your best friends and frequent collaborators. Dave has had to walk a incredibly thin tightrope—supporting his brother personally while maintaining a professional distance to protect his own thriving career.
How Dave Franco Finally Escaped the Shadow
For a long time, Dave was just "James’s little brother." He’s been vocal about how much he hated that. In a recent 2025 interview with Bustle, Dave was pretty blunt: "No one was going to hire me just because I was James Franco's little brother. If I sucked, I would've disappeared very quickly."
He’s right.
Look at his trajectory. He didn't just stick to the easy "hot guy" roles in movies like 21 Jump Street. He pivoted.
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- Directorial Success: He’s become a legitimate filmmaker. His debut, The Rental, was a hit, and his 2023 film Somebody I Used to Know (starring his wife, Alison Brie) proved he has a specific, sensitive eye for storytelling.
- The Franchise King: He’s still the face of the Now You See Me series, which just released its third installment, Now You See Me: Now You Don't, in late 2025.
- Action & Drama: Between Love Lies Bleeding and the upcoming The Shitheads, Dave has built a resume that doesn't rely on his last name.
Interestingly, James is actually his biggest fan these days. In rare public comments, the elder Franco has said he’s "excited" to see Dave growing and trying new things. It’s a weird role reversal. The mentor has become the spectator.
The Collaborations: Will They Ever Work Together Again?
If you want to see the peak of the Franco era, you go back to The Disaster Artist (2017).
It was perfect. James played the eccentric Tommy Wiseau, and Dave played Greg Sestero. Their real-life chemistry made the movie work. It was supposed to be the start of a long creative partnership. Instead, it was effectively their last major hurrah.
They also appeared together in:
- Milk (2008) – Dave had a tiny role as "Telephone Tree #5."
- The Broken Tower (2011) – Dave played a younger version of James's character.
- Zeroville (2019) – A project filmed years earlier that eventually limped into theaters after James’s legal troubles began.
Will they ever share the screen again? Probably not anytime soon. Hollywood is a business of optics. Right now, Dave is "clean" and James is "complicated." For Dave to co-star in a James Franco project today would be a massive PR risk that his team likely wouldn't let him touch.
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What’s Next for the Franco Brothers?
The path forward for both men is radically different.
James Franco is trying for a quiet comeback through European cinema. He recently starred in the Italian film Hey Joe and has been taking roles in smaller, international productions away from the glare of the Los Angeles spotlight. He says he’s "grateful" for the pause because it forced him to change, but the path back to the A-list is effectively blocked.
Dave Franco, on the other hand, is at his peak. He’s 40 now and moving into the "prestige" phase of his career. He’s writing an erotic thriller and potentially leading a rom-com with Alison Brie.
If you're looking for lessons here, it's about the fragility of reputation and the power of individual identity. Dave worked twice as hard to prove he wasn't a fluke, and that work ethic is what saved him when the family brand took a hit.
Practical Takeaways
- Separate the Art from the Artist: If you’re a fan of their early work, The Disaster Artist remains their definitive joint achievement.
- Watch Dave’s Evolution: If you only know him from comedies, check out The Rental or Love Lies Bleeding to see his range.
- Follow the Comeback: If you're curious about James, keep an eye on the international film festival circuits (Venice, Cannes), where he is slowly re-emerging.
The Franco legacy isn't erased, but it is permanently split. One brother is rebuilding a life; the other is building a legacy.