Dave Franco has apparently made it his unofficial mission to hype up talented filmmakers — and sometimes, that support comes back as a movie.
The actor first reached out to Jeremy Saulnier after watching Blue Ruin, then did the same for Macon Blair following I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.
Years later, Franco and Blair finally teamed up on Idiots, a raunchy road comedy hitting theaters August 28.
“We don’t tell each other enough how much we enjoy each other’s work. There’s such a competitive spirit within the industry that I just want to put out some good vibes, especially if it’s someone’s first time putting out a movie,” Franco told The Hollywood Reporter.
“So I guess I play the long game sometimes, but it doesn’t normally lead to collaboration. More often than not, it has led to friendship.”
Blair originally sent Franco a script called The Shitheads in 2017, but Franco initially felt he was too young to play Mark, a washed-up slacker tasked with transporting a disastrous teenage influencer to rehab.
Fast-forward several years and Franco had aged into the role — and apparently wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“I said, ‘No pressure, but I’m here. If I can help in any way as a producer, I’d love to come in and help find the money,’” he recalled.
“So I’ve basically been stalking Macon for the past ten years in trying to collaborate with him.”
The movie eventually found financing, with Franco helping bring O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Mason Thames aboard.
And then there’s that scene.
“It’s a top-three poo scene in cinematic history. It’s up there with Jeff Daniels in Dumb and Dumber,” Franco said.
“I remember calling my wife [Alison Brie] after that day and telling her I just did the craziest thing I’ve ever done on camera, which is saying a lot because I’ve done so many fucked-up things on camera.”
Originally titled The Shitheads, the film became Idiots before its theatrical release. Franco hopes it can help revive the outrageous comedies audiences loved in the early 2000s.
“Idiots hearkens back to comedies from the early 2000s: The Hangover, Superbad, Pineapple Express, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle,” he said.
“There are other moments besides the diarrhea scene that’ll shock audiences. I have personally missed these types of comedies. So I hope people check it out because, for us to be able to make more comedies again, people need to see the rare ones that do get made.”
