Actor James Franco is set to bring his experimental stage play Desert Films to Vancouver's Rio Theatre for two performances later this month. The show, which Franco wrote, directed, and stars in, will take place on May 28 and 30 at 8 p.m.
About the Play
Desert Films is a surreal, Lynchian stage production that blends live performance with film noir, true crime, and cinematic projections. In the play, Franco portrays actor Robert Blake, who in turn plays his character from the 1997 David Lynch film Lost Highway. The story revolves around Blake's character taping an abductee, played by Blaine Kern, to a chair and forcing him to read the part of Blake's murdered wife. The dark comedic combination of theatre and cinema has earned positive reviews.
Franco's Recent Activities
Franco arrives in Vancouver fresh from a recent appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, where his upcoming independent action-thriller Foster had a market screening. The film is slated for a late 2026 release. Additionally, it was announced that Franco will play a villain in John Rambo, a prequel to the Rambo franchise. This marks Franco's first studio film in a decade and is expected to be released in 2027.
Background on Franco
Franco, known for his Oscar-nominated role in 127 Hours and starring turns in Pineapple Express, This is the End, and The Disaster Artist, stepped away from the spotlight in 2018 following allegations of sexual misconduct and exploitative behavior made by multiple women who were students at his acting school. He largely paused his career after settling a 2021 lawsuit for $2.2 million with two of the women. While he originally denied the allegations, Franco acknowledged in 2021 that he slept with students, stating he believed the encounters were consensual despite an imbalance of power.
Rio Theatre's Stance
When asked about potential backlash for programming Franco's project, Rio Theatre CEO Corinne Lea stated via email, “As an arts and culture venue, I feel it is up to the audience to choose whether to attend. I don’t believe that others should decide for them. It’s up to the artist to learn from their mistakes. I believe it is important for artists to work through difficult issues in their art and, if there is an interest in his work, then it should be seen.”
Tickets for Desert Films are available at the Rio Theatre's website.
