Dave Franco has taken on a starring role in the comedy film Idiots, which premiered at Sundance earlier in the year before securing theatrical distribution from IFC. The film, originally titled The Shitheads, was written and directed by Macon Blair, marking a collaboration that Franco had been cultivating for approximately a decade.
Franco explained that his outreach to emerging and established directors stems from a desire to foster goodwill within a competitive industry. After seeing Blair’s directorial debut I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, Franco reached out to express his appreciation. When Blair subsequently sent Franco a script, Franco initially felt too young for the lead role of Mark Southard, an aging underachiever. The project faced financing difficulties and stalled around 2017 and 2018, but Franco revisited it around 2024 after aging into the character and gaining directing and producing experience. He assisted with casting by recommending O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Mason Thames, drawing on previous collaborations with both actors.
The film was shot in Georgia in 2025 after securing funding. Franco described one particular scene involving a dramatic digestive mishap as exceptional in his career, comparing it favorably to similar moments in other comedies. He characterized it as a bold moment he believed audiences would discuss following the film.
The decision to retitle the film from The Shitheads to Idiots was made to improve promotional prospects, though the tonality of the original concept was preserved. Franco expressed hope that Idiots could revive a style of comedy that has become scarce in theaters, citing early 2000s films as inspiration. He noted that the film contains multiple shocking moments beyond the single scene that garnered particular attention.
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