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TwitterJames Franco joining 'General Hospital.' Yes, that James Franco.
James Franco is joining the cast of "General Hospital" for an extended guest run starting in November. No foolin'.Franco, who's starred in the "Spider-Man" movies, "Pineapple Express" and "Milk," will make his first appearance on the ABC soap on Nov. 20.
The network is keeping most of the details about his character under wraps, but ABC does say that he's destined to make Jason's (Steve Burton) life "a living hell." Franco and Burton, by the way, are represented by the same management company, James/Levy.
"We are thrilled to announce that James Franco will play an integral part in a lengthy run on 'General Hospital' this fall," executive producer Jill Farren Phelps says. "It's an honor that an actor of James' caliber would choose to spend some of his valuable time in Port Charles."
ABC also says that it was Franco who approached the show about guest-starring, rather than the other way around.
Whatever Franco's reasons for seeking the "General Hospital" part, it's not for lack of other work. He has two movies -- the comedy "Date Night" and "Howl," in which he plays Beat poet Allen Ginsberg -- due for release next year and is attached to a couple other projects as well.
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Wow - isn't that something, and does begs the question why. I could see if his movie prospects had dried up and TV producers weren't exactly knocking on his door to get him. Going the soap route would be a last resort but no. Perhaps it's purely for the experience and who knows he's probably a GH fan. I ask where does ABC daytime gets the money to afford James Franco. Soaps are no longer cash cows for the 3 major networks. All of em are being ask to cut their budgets (ad revenue is down), their licensing fees have been slashed and soap icons like Eric Braeden the Great Victor Newman on Young and the Restless, along with his co-stars Melody Thomas Scot (Nikki Reed Newman) and Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) asked to take a pay cut. Even Susan Lucci - AMC's Erica Kane took a pay cut.
From what I read he just wants the experience no researching or anything and he has the same manager as Steve Burton (Jason GH) so he called them up it is crazy but hey if it helps soaps stay alive and not be replaced by more reality or a talk show with Kate (from jon and kate) than i'll be the first to say WOO HOO
OMG! WTH? How did ABC pull off that coup?
Maybe his salary isn't that expensive.
The bigger story is that Jonathan Jackson is coming back as Lucky.
Combine that with Sarah Brown being let out of her contract early so she could move to Bold and the Beautiful there are a lot of changes coming to GH.
Good for Franco! Soaps get a bum rap all the time. The truth is that the famous actors could never keep up the pace of a soap. A two-hour movie takes three months to film. Prime time shows take six days to shoot a one-hour episode. Soaps shoot five days a week, every single day. Plenty of very talented actors started on soaps, and after a soap, any other medium is a cake walk.
I think it's great! This will definitely be a great "shot in the arm" for the soap industry. I'm sure his run on GH will be a lot of fun! I'm also excited about the original Lucky Jonathan Jackson coming back!!
I read that he wants to do this as research for a future film he will be involved in.
I loved James on Freaks & Geeks! I have watched GH off and on for over 20 years, I like Steve Burton and his character Jason so I will probably try to catch this storyline.
I think it is great that Johnathan Jackson is coming back, it will be interesting to see how they do this. I don't think Greg Vaughn is being treated very nicely as he leaves. I hope GV finds anosther job very soon.