James Franco Joins Soap Opera, General Hospital

This is not a joke, Golden Globe winner James Franco has signed on to star in the ABC soap opera General Hospital. As a closet soap watcher, I know where to look to get the honest truth about casting matters, and it appears that this story is 100 percent accurate. According to Soapcentral, the actor will have a lengthy stint on the show during their November sweeps period.

General Hospital‘s executive producer Jill Farren Phelps released the following statement regarding Franco’s addition to the cast.

“We are thrilled to announce that James Franco will play an integral part in a lengthy run on General Hospital this fall. It’s an honor that an actor of James’ caliber would choose to spend some of his valuable time in Port Charles.”

Here’s another kicker that’s sure to throw you for a loop: Franco approached the soap for the acting gig, not the other way around. Not much is known about his character, but he’s being described as a “mystery person,” who will interact with everyone of the show’s canvas. His story arc begins on November 20th, and his stay is expected to last for two months.

People everywhere are trying to figure out why Franco would go from an A-list film career to a supporting role on a soap opera. Don’t get me wrong, plenty of notable actors got their start on soaps, General Hospital specifically kicked off the careers of Demi Moore, Ricky Martin, Amber Tamblin, and Eva Longoria. But those people were all newbies to the acting game, not established stars who typically work opposite Sean Penn.

When he does finally make his appearance on the show it will freak me out. There are some good actors on GH, but it will be odd to see Franco go toe to toe with them! He’s going to seriously blow some of those guys out of the water. I hope the fluorescent lights and bad dialogue don’t bring down his acting game.

Here’s what Franco will be in for when he joins the cast of General Hospital.

What do you think about James Franco appearing on General Hospital?