Celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 11:58 14 Jul 2026 GMT
James Franco has returned to social media with a string of cryptic TikTok videos, telling followers that he has "some serious shit" to reveal. The Oscar-nominated actor launched a new account on June 3 after largely staying away from social media following the sexual misconduct allegations made against him in 2018.
In his first video, Franco insisted both the account and the videos were genuine, not AI-generated. He also tried to get ahead of the reaction many viewers were likely to have. "I maybe seem crazy, like, why? What’s going on? What’s the gimmick? No. This is real," he said. The caption added: "I can’t say too much right now. But stick around and I promise it will all make sense."
Over the following weeks, Franco continued posting increasingly strange clips in which he appeared anxious and claimed he was being watched, followed, and feared he might disappear. While many viewers suspected the posts were building toward a promotional campaign, Franco eventually claimed the mystery centered on an alleged alien encounter outside his home.
On June 15, Franco claimed he had captured footage of an extraterrestrial on his property and began teasing a July 13 reveal.
He continued raising the stakes in another video posted on June 25.
"OK, they hacked my account. I got it back. They want me to stop. People think I’m acting crazy. Whatever. I’m not acting crazy. I saw something. They tried to hack my account and I got it back," he said. "They don’t want me to show what I’m gonna show. I’m gonna show it. I already told you, 7/13."
When July 13 arrived, Franco finally shared the long-teased footage, saying the revelation had been forced upon him.
"I saw something, and I thought, you know what? I can’t keep this quiet," he stated. "I need to get this out for that very reason that people are trying to stop me."
The black-and-white clips appeared to show an alien-like figure walking around outside his home before approaching his windows.
Rather than convincing viewers, the footage prompted plenty of skepticism in the comments.
One person pointed out what they believed was an obvious error, writing: “James, his fingers is smashed in the damn door. I would like to see the clip of those long creepy ass fingers utilizing that doorknob.”
They continued: “If I were to convince you guys of alien footage being genuine, I would show the movement of the hand on the knob. That is the fuck all.”
Others were equally doubtful, with one person writing: “Clearly fake but I’ll say it again, I’m excited for whatever movie this is for,” while another added, “God damnit James Franco, you made us wait for this?!”
Users also noted that additional footage is only available to paid subscribers on Franco's account.
The final message in Franco's July 13 video teased even more clips to come, reading: “A lot more footage dropping soon! It gets very crazy!!!”
For now, viewers remain divided over whether Franco is simply trolling the internet or setting up a larger project.
According to his IMDb page, Franco is attached to several upcoming films, although none appear to focus on extraterrestrial life.
Franco's screen appearances have been limited since the sexual misconduct allegations became public. His last major film project was Netflix's The Ballad of Buster Scruggs in 2018, while his last television role came in HBO's The Deuce, which ended in 2019.
He is also set to appear in two upcoming Lionsgate releases, including John Rambo in 2027 and Golden State Killer, directed by and starring Vincent Gallo.
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