James Franco returns to Cannes, insists he never disappeared from filmmaking

James Franco has pushed back against claims that he has “been hiding out,” saying he has remained active in filmmaking and is focused on living a more positive and grounded life following years of controversy.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, the 48-year-old actor addressed speculation about his career trajectory and public absence after facing misconduct allegations in 2018.

“It's not true I've been hiding out,” Franco told Deadline during the festival’s official dinner on Tuesday, May 12, after walking the red carpet earlier in the week.

“I've been here the last three or four years running, selling things... They treat me well and I get to go and see great movies.”

Franco attended the festival alongside his longtime partner Izabel Pakzad, appearing at the opening ceremony and screening events as part of the 2026 edition of the festival.

The actor has largely kept a lower profile in Hollywood in recent years following accusations of sexual misconduct in 2018 involving multiple women, including former acting students. 

In 2021, he settled a lawsuit with two of the accusers for $2.235 million.

Addressing whether he felt unfairly treated, Franco said he was choosing to focus on moving forward rather than revisiting past criticism.

“I don't know. What am I going to do? I just go forward and try to live a positive life,” he said. “I just try to be the best person I can be. I think I was put on this planet to make movies.”

He added that filmmaking remains his central purpose, describing it as the one thing he continues to pursue with consistency.

Franco also revealed that he has completed work on a new “big studio movie,” which is expected to be released between late 2026 and 2027. He has not appeared in a major Hollywood production since 2017’s The Disaster Artist.

Since stepping back from Hollywood in 2019, Franco has gradually returned to screen work, appearing in smaller international projects including Hey Joe, Squali, and Bunny-Man, as well as upcoming titles such as Foster and Toad.

Reflecting on his personal life in a previous interview, Franco said time away from the industry allowed him to focus on relationships and stability.

“I put a lot of time into my personal life,” he said, noting his long-term relationship with Pakzad and describing it as something he had not been able to maintain earlier in his career.

“Being told you're bad is painful,” Franco previously told Variety, adding that the experience ultimately forced him to reassess his direction in life and work.

The 2026 Cannes Film Festival continues through May 23.