James Franco swaps Hollywood for a new mobile-first series

James Franco is starring in Love, Lies & Frank, a new microdrama now streaming exclusively on Shortical.

The series is among the first productions made under SAG-AFTRA’s Verticals Agreement, reflecting the growing presence of established Hollywood talent in vertical short-form entertainment.

Franco plays Jimmy Frank, an eccentric advertising agency CEO who appears confident and humorous while dealing with unresolved issues from his past. The character also faces criminal and supernatural threats surrounding his company.

The series features Eric Guilmette and Neela Jolene in supporting roles. Guilmette plays Cameron Frank, the stepbrother of Franco’s character, while Jolene portrays Daniella Hanson, an ambitious employee whose professional success is complicated by a secret romance.

The storyline follows Daniella as she secures an important advertising campaign while reconnecting with Cameron. Her relationship creates a conflict between her career ambitions and a romance she has kept private.

Love, Lies & Frank is directed by Eric Wang Schwager and written by Melissa Lynn Moore. Knockout Shorts produced the series alongside Peter Gold of Gold Films. The production did not use AI-generated performances or digital replicas.

Shortical CEO Guy Shimoni described Franco’s involvement as a milestone for the microdrama industry, as Hollywood increasingly explores mobile-first storytelling.

The project is part of a broader expansion of vertical dramas, with other entertainment companies and performers also entering the format. Microdramas are designed primarily for mobile viewing and typically use short episodes and vertically framed video.

Franco, whose credits include 127 Hours and The Disaster Artist, was also recently announced as part of the cast of John Rambo. He has continued acting following allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power, which he denied.

Shortical says its platform generates more than 20 million episode plays per month in the U.S.