James Franco returns to Hollywood in Stallone-backed ‘Rambo’ movie

Nearly a decade after sexual misconduct allegations derailed his Hollywood career, James Franco is attempting a major return to mainstream cinema with a role in the expanding “Rambo” franchise. The 48-year-old actor has spent years on the periphery of the industry following a 2018 scandal. Experts, including crisis and reputation management expert Evan Nierman, view this casting in the film “John Rambo” as a strategic “temperature check” to see if audiences are ready to move past the controversy.

Mr. Franco’s career hit a standstill in 2018 after five women accused him of sexual misconduct in a “Los Angeles Times” exposé. The situation led to a lawsuit from two former students of his acting school, which Mr. Franco settled in 2021 with a $2.2 million payout. During his time away from the spotlight, Mr. Franco focused on personal recovery, acknowledging issues with sex addiction and substance abuse while working on changing his character.

He maintained a presence through smaller European and independent projects such as “Karantina,” “Hey Joe,” and “Squali,” and recently appeared at the Cannes Film Festival after filming the action thriller “Foster.”

Industry experts suggest that joining the “Rambo” universe provides Mr. Franco with a “soft landing” because the brand carries decades of built-in audience loyalty that outweighs individual casting controversies. A significant factor in this comeback is the backing of Sylvester Stallone, who is serving as an executive producer on the project, according to IMDb. Aaron Evans, founder of the communications firm Story Group, believes Mr. Stallone’s involvement acts as a “vouch” to the audience, signaling that the casting is acceptable and shielding Franco from the level of backlash he might face in a standalone project.

While the film stars Noah Centineo as a young John Rambo and is directed by Jalmari Helander, Mr. Franco reportedly occupies a supporting role rather than the lead. Furthermore, while Mr. Stallone provides his “blessing” as a producer, he does not star in the film.