James Franco’s rather dramatic exit from General Hospital left fans looking for answers. Though his on-screen presence never really became a fan favorite, audiences were invested in what could’ve been the reason behind his sudden demise on the show.
Franco’s head-scratching exit, courtesy of Peter August, didn’t just shock viewers; it defied character momentum and seemed to serve minimal narrative purpose. In this piece, we will unpack why Franco’s character was written off, why fans weren’t keen on him to begin with, and why his death didn’t add up.
Here’s why Franco was written off General Hospital despite Roger Howarth’s reimagined version
James Franco’s character, Franco Baldwin, was supposedly killed by Jason (Steve Burton) in 2012 after Franco allegedly r*ped his wife, Sam, played by Kelly Monaco. James’ exit was reportedly due to his decision to lean toward films (via The List). However, not too long after, Roger Howarth replaced him and took on the role of Franco in General Hospital, giving the character a complete overhaul- from a psychopathic murderer to quirky art therapist, and then a father figure to Liz Webber’s (Rebecca Herbst) children.
Audiences began warming to the character owing to Howarth’s takeover: Franco’s arc from twisted killer to a vulnerable father figure was indicative of Howarth’s craftsmanship and depth. Even still, the show’s executives (and some fans) couldn’t find peace with the character’s violent, “r*ape-adjacent” track record.
What do you suppose was behind the decision to kill Franco off yet keep Roger Howarth on the show?
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Reddit chatter even speculated ABC wanted to kill off Franco’s character, worrying that the misconduct allegations against James Franco IRL (via 6abc) might have an impact on how audiences view the character that he originally portrayed.
The creators, however, did have a contract with Howarth, which led to his reintroduction as Austin. This decision helped the show makers in keeping Howarth on the show for his acting brilliance while severing ties with the problematic history.
Franco’s death in General Hospital didn’t make sense to many viewers
Despite mixed initial reactions, Franco slowly won his fair share of supporters. By the time he was finally written off General Hospital, the character had developed genuine connections with Liz and her kids, and his relationships had steadily evolved.
Yet audiences reacted with confusion, perhaps even outrage, when the character was rather abruptly killed off at the hands of Peter August- especially since Peter himself was considered a major antagonist, escaping consequences.
Soap audiences felt the death was uncalled for. Fans even pointed out that Franco’s tumor diagnosis foreshadowed a more plausible end to the character; however, the show never fully explored those stakes. They took Franco out with limited fanfare, which is contradictory to soap opera exits.
Moreover, the decision to kill Franco off but retain Howarth on the show added to the mix of confusion. Fans felt his removal did not fill any real narrative void when Howarth was already all set to return as an entirely new character named Austin.
Franco’s departure did little to make sense with his arc; it felt like a reactionary decision based on the character and James Franco’s s*xual misconduct history, rather than a natural closure for the character. What could’ve gradually led up to a layered, compelling ending was cut short by a jarring and abrupt exit that left fans scratching their heads.
General Hospital is available for streaming on Hulu (USA)
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
