If you’ve been keeping half an eye on movie posters or film festival lineups lately, you might have noticed a face that's been missing for a while. James Franco is back. But it’s not exactly the "Pineapple Express" or "Spider-Man" kind of return most people expected. Honestly, the whole thing is a bit weirder than that.
The new James Franco movie everyone is whispering about isn't a massive Marvel blockbuster or a Seth Rogen stoner comedy. Those days seem pretty far in the rearview mirror. Instead, Franco has pivoted hard toward European indie cinema. We're talking gritty dramas and moody Italian landscapes. Specifically, the film making the most noise right now is titled Hey Joe.
It’s a strange, somber project.
The Reality Behind Hey Joe
Basically, Hey Joe follows a guy named Dean Barry. He's an American WWII veteran who heads back to Naples in the early 1970s. Why? To find the son he never knew he had. It’s directed by Claudio Giovannesi, a guy who knows how to make Naples look both beautiful and absolutely terrifying.
Franco plays Barry as a man who is essentially a ghost of his former self. He’s drinking too much. He’s broke. He sells his prized 1966 Mustang just to afford the plane ticket to Italy. When he gets there, he finds out his son, Enzo, has been raised by a mob boss. It’s not a "feel-good" movie. It’s a "sit in the dark and feel heavy" movie.
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Why this role specifically?
Franco hasn't been shy about the parallels here. During the press circuit at the Rome Film Fest, he talked about how his character is someone who "wasted his own life." He’s clearly using the role to process his own "cancellation" and the years he spent away from the spotlight following the 2018 misconduct allegations and the subsequent $2.23 million settlement in 2021.
He told Variety that he felt "cast out" of Hollywood. So, he went to Europe.
It’s a classic move, right? When the U.S. stops calling, you go where the artistic "edge" is still appreciated. In Hey Joe, Franco isn't trying to be the charming lead. He’s playing a guy who is physically and emotionally scarred. There’s a scene where he and his son literally show each other their scars—the father’s from the war, the son’s from the streets of Naples. It’s visceral.
What Else Is on the 2026 Slate?
If Hey Joe sounds too heavy, Franco has a few other irons in the fire that are just as unconventional. He’s not doing the "one for them, one for me" thing anymore. It's more like "all for the art" at this point.
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- Squali (Sharks): This is another Italian production. It’s based on a novel by Giacomo Mazzariol and directed by Daniele Barbiero. Franco stars alongside Lorenzo Zurzolo. It hit Italian theaters late in 2025 and is still trickling out to international markets.
- The Price of Money: A Largo Winch Adventure: You might have seen this one pop up on streaming. It’s a French action-thriller. Franco plays the antagonist. It’s a bigger budget than his indie dramas, but it’s still firmly in the European sphere.
- Golden State Killer: This is the one people are actually nervous/excited about. He’s starring alongside Vincent Gallo. Yeah, that Vincent Gallo. It’s a recipe for either a masterpiece or a total disaster.
- The Razor’s Edge: He’s also attached to a project with Tommy Lee Jones.
The Seth Rogen Elephant in the Room
You can’t talk about a new James Franco movie without mentioning who isn't in it. Seth Rogen.
For a decade, they were inseparable. Now? Total radio silence. Rogen famously said in 2021 that he has no plans to work with Franco again. That hasn't changed. While Dave Franco (James’s brother) is still thriving in the mainstream Hollywood system—starring in horror flicks like Together with Alison Brie—James is operating on the fringe.
It’s a lonely spot to be in. Franco has mentioned he’s been "crazy for a while" trying to find a work-life balance. He’s no longer waiting for the big studios to call. He’s making his own luck, mostly in languages he didn't grow up speaking.
Does the New James Franco Movie Actually Rank?
If you’re looking for a comeback on the scale of Robert Downey Jr., you’re going to be disappointed. Franco’s new path is much more akin to Mickey Rourke or Nicolas Cage’s "VOD era," but with a higher-brow, "A24-adjacent" vibe.
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The critics actually liked Hey Joe. They called his performance "captivating" and "immersed." He’s not phoning it in. He’s acting like a man who knows this might be his last shot at being taken seriously.
What most people get wrong
The biggest misconception is that Franco is "banned" from acting. He isn't. He’s just been decoupled from the machinery that makes you a household name. You won't see him on a cereal box, but you will see him at the Torino Film Festival.
He’s also leaned back into his experimental roots. In late 2025, he did a stage project called Desert Films in Hollywood. It was this weird blend of true crime and live performance. People who saw it called it "brilliant" and "edgy." It seems he’s trying to rebuild his reputation as a "serious artist" rather than a "movie star."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Critics
If you want to keep up with what Franco is doing in 2026, you have to look outside the usual domestic release calendars.
- Track European Distributors: Keep an eye on Vision Distribution and Eagle Pictures. Most of his new work starts there.
- VOD is Your Friend: Movies like Largo Winch and Hey Joe often skip wide theatrical releases in the US and go straight to premium VOD or niche streaming services like MUBI.
- Don't Expect the Old James: The "smirking, high-energy" Franco is gone. The new version is quieter, grittier, and significantly more weathered.
The new James Franco movie era is about atonement through art. Whether the public is ready to buy that ticket is a different story, but he’s certainly not stopping. He’s currently in pre-production for several projects, including Toad and Me, You. He’s staying busy. Maybe too busy. But for a guy who was once the busiest man in Hollywood, "busy" is the only way he knows how to exist.
Next Steps for You: Check the "International" or "Independent" sections on your streaming apps (specifically Netflix or Apple TV) for Hey Joe. It's the best barometer we have for whether this second act has any real legs.