Romance, mob wars and murder mysteries are nothing extraordinary in the fictional city of Port Charles, New York. This summer, however, things are about to get wickedly wild as the show brings back a deranged artist who wants nothing more than to blur the lines between fiction and reality.

Franco, played by James Franco, surfaces on General Hospital once again to plot his ultimate revenge against Jason Morgan (Steve Burton). To refresh your memory, Franco's creepy obsession with the mob hitman began after Franco witnessed Jason disposing the body of Claudia Zacchara. Franco eventually confronted Jason about how much he idolizes his work, even calling it art and telling Jason they are the same. But Jason couldn't care less while Franco is less than thrilled with Jason's lack of respect for Franco or his work. Since then, he's been sending Jason several messages--hinting that he's back...and he's dead serious.


Reeking havoc on the residents of Port Charles beginning June 30, Franco disguises as a homeless man who will "set a trail of breadcrumbs for L.A. that will also lure Dante [Dominic Zamprogna] and Lulu [Julie Berman]," according to show head writer Bob Guza.

Franco's end game, however, all boils down to a huge art show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A., where General Hospital actually shot James Franco's episodes. The Spider-Man actor tells Zap2it that "this art show involves sculptures Franco made that are based on the locations where he lived and interacted with Jason, and he plans to murder Jason at MOCA and film it as art."

"The name of his new exhibit is 'Francophrenia: Dissolving the Boundary Between Illusion and Reality' as, yes, that's Francophrenia as in schizophrenia," Guza tells TV Guide. "Franco will create this elaborate dog and pony show for Jason, and Jason's non-reaction to it will make Franco pull the ultimate trigger."

So what else can General Hospital viewers look forward to aside from an art show within a soap opera? Expect James Franco's own mother, author Betsy Franco, to appear on the show as Franco's mother, Karen Anderson, beginning July 2. Fan favorite Vanessa Marcil will also make her highly anticipated return on August 11 as Brenda, who turns out to be connected to Franco.  

(Image courtesy of ABC)