James Franco to open Teatro Cucinelli season with Desert Films

American actor and director James Franco will open the 2026/27 season at Teatro Cucinelli with the production ‘Desert Films’. The performance, scheduled for September 27, 2026, features Franco alongside actor Blaine Kern III, singer Elli Papadiamanti, and pianist Konstantinos Diminakis.

Directed by Franco and Peter Gold, the production explores the nature and cost of fame. The narrative draws inspiration from a character in David Lynch’s 1997 film ‘Lost Highway’, depicting a mysterious encounter with a kidnapped young actor. The work aims to blur the boundaries between cinema and theatre, reality and fiction.

Franco expressed a deep interest in the mechanics of Hollywood, noting his fascination with the history of the craft and the psychological impact of the industry. He described his interest in stories where the obsession with Hollywood becomes a form of addiction.