Dave Franco Bets on Raunchy Comedy Revival With Theatrical Feature Idiots

Dave Franco is aiming to revive broad theatrical comedies with his upcoming film *Idiots*, according to reporting from The Hollywood Reporter. The actor hopes the project can reignite audience demand for unapologetic, mid-budget raunchy humor on the big screen, a genre that major studios have largely scaled back over the past decade.

The feature, which previously carried the working title *The Shitheads*, pairs Franco opposite young actor Mason Thames. The storyline follows Franco's character, Mark, who serves as a handler alongside his partner for Sheridan, played by Thames.

## A Return to Broad Humor

The initial title referenced a pivotal gross-out sequence in the movie. In that scene, Thames' character tampers with his handlers' generic sodas, triggering an explosive gastrointestinal disaster for Franco's character inside a cramped motel room.

Studios have increasingly migrated mid-budget physical and R-rated comedies directly to streaming platforms, pointing to unpredictable box office performance and shifting consumer habits. The theatrical calendar has consequently been left almost entirely to franchise intellectual property, high-concept horror, and large-scale action tentpoles.

By pushing for multiplex visibility, *Idiots* represents a deliberate test case for whether mainstream moviegoers remain willing to show up in theaters for traditional, unfiltered slapstick humor.