GoKawiilJames Franco headlines microdrama series as Hollywood embraces short-form phone dramas
Hollywood actors, producers and investors are increasingly moving into microdramas, short scripted series built for phones with soap-opera plots and cliffhangers meant to keep viewers paying for more. James Franco now stars in "Love, Lies & Frank" on the app Shortical, one of the first such projects made under SAG-AFTRA's new verticals agreement. Omdia projects the U.S. microdrama market will hit $1.5 billion this year, drawing apps like ReelShort, DramaBox and TikTok's own PineDrama.