James Franco is back on the big screen, but his Hollywood circle looks different than before. The actor, known for his diverse roles in films like Spider-Man, 127 Hours, and Pineapple Express, is making his return through European cinema, with his latest film Hey Joe premiering at the Rome Film Festival. This comeback, however, comes with significant changes in Franco’s life—including the loss of his long-standing friendship and collaboration with Seth Rogen.
Franco and Rogen, once a Hollywood duo who shared the screen in Freaks and Geeks, Pineapple Express, The Interview, and The Disaster Artist, are no longer in contact. “I haven’t talked to Seth,” Franco shared in an interview at the festival. “I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over. And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me.”
The pair’s close bond started with the cult classic Freaks and Geeks and blossomed over several comedic roles that established them as one of Hollywood’s most beloved duos. But in 2018, after Franco wore a Time’s Up pin to the Golden Globe Awards, five women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, including former students from Franco’s acting school. A year later, a lawsuit was filed, which was ultimately settled in 2021.
Following the allegations, Rogen publicly distanced himself from Franco, stating in an interview with The London Times that he would no longer work with him, saying, “I despise abuse and harassment, and I would never knowingly put someone in a situation where they were around someone like that.” In a later interview, Franco responded, admitting he understood Rogen’s decision, though he found it painful. “He had to answer for me because I was silent,” Franco reflected. “I don’t want that for him.”
While Franco isn’t fighting his Hollywood fallout, he has been open about the personal transformation he’s undergone. After the lawsuit, Franco stepped away from the public eye, taking time to reassess his life. He has drawn inspiration from The Second Mountain, a book by New York Times columnist David Brooks, which encourages readers to pursue a life of service and personal growth. “Being told you’re bad is painful,” Franco admitted, “but ultimately, that’s kind of what I needed to just stop going the way I was going.” This introspection, he explained, helped him focus on deeper goals and a more fulfilling personal life.
Now, Franco’s film career has taken a different direction. Rather than Hollywood, he’s worked on European projects, including Hey Joe, a gritty Italian drama, and the French thriller The Price of Money: A Largo Winch Adventure. Both films highlight Franco’s return to acting while reflecting the changes he’s made in his life. The actor is grateful for the opportunity, admitting, “I did go through a lawsuit, and during that lawsuit I wasn’t working. But then COVID hit, so everybody wasn’t working. I used that time to really change.”
With renewed focus, Franco has also been working on his personal life. In a relationship with actress Izabel Pakzad for over seven years, Franco said he’s learned to balance his work and personal life, something he struggled with in the past. He’s also staying connected with his roots in recovery, focusing on giving back as a part of his ongoing commitment to self-improvement.
As Franco continues to rebuild his life, he remains open to future creative endeavors, expressing hope to return to directing when the time feels right. He’s committed to patience and embracing whatever comes next, saying, “I think it’ll happen when the time is right.”
The loss of his friendship with Rogen remains one of the painful outcomes of this journey, but Franco has found a way to move forward, leaving the past behind and embracing a second chance.