It looks like Tyrese Gibson was ahead of the curve when it came to disliking James Franco. While Seth Rogen recently declared he wouldn’t work with Franco due to allegations of sexual misconduct, Gibson has had issues with Franco since their 2006 film “Annapolis.” Check out the vintage trailer from the early 2000s here:
The film features Franco as a Navy trainee and Gibson as his commanding officer. The climax of the movie? A boxing tournament showdown between the two. Unlike most movie fights that rely on camera angles to fake the intensity, the punches in “Annapolis” were real—much to Gibson’s dismay. In an Elle Magazine interview, Gibson recalled the filming process: “I was always like, ‘James, lighten up, man. We’re just practicing.’ He never lightened up.”
During the final scenes, Franco actually punched Gibson in the face. “I respect Method actors, but he never snapped out of character,” Gibson said. “Whenever we’d have to get in the ring for boxing scenes, and even during practice, the dude was full-on hitting me.”
Franco later took responsibility for the tension, admitting in 2014, “I take full blame for any problems on that film. If he had a bad experience working with me, I was probably a jerk. I was not purposely cruel to him, but I was probably so wrapped up in my performance that I was not as friendly as I could have been. But when I’m asked about it in the press it makes it seem as if it’s still an issue. I think Tyrese is a sweet guy with a good heart. I wish him all the best.”
Despite Franco’s admission, the animosity seems to linger. In a 2008 GQ interview, Gibson hinted at ongoing issues: “I hear he wants to blow up my hotel room.” While that might have been an exaggeration, it’s clear there’s no love lost between them. Speaking to Playboy magazine, Gibson firmly stated, “I never want to work with him again, and I’m any sure he feels the same way. It felt very personal. It was f**ked-up.”
Given that Gibson just came to act and found himself literally fighting his co-star, it’s understandable why he harbors these feelings.