James Franco wants to do more comedy

NEW YORK, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. actor James Franco jokingly says he had so much fun playing a stoner on the lam in "Pineapple Express," he is reluctant to return to drama.

Franco, who started out on the series "Freaks and Geeks" and in the TV movie "James Dean," has appeared in mostly serious films like "Annapolis," "Sonny," "City by the Sea," "Flyboys," "The Dead Girl" and "Tristan and Isolde" during the last decade or so.

Asked what playing a pot dealer named Saul in the big-screen comedy, "Pineapple Express," taught him about himself, Franco told reporters in New York recently: "I never want to do drama again, I guess. They're so serious and, I don't know, this was so fun. I basically don't ever want to play another different character. I just want to do this character."

Pressed to disclose whether he would appear in a fourth "Spider-Man movie," if invited, the actor who plays Harry Osborn in the franchise, quipped, "If they let me play Saul, yeah."

"Honestly, I wish I had done more comedy after 'Freaks and Geeks,'" Franco explained. "I guess I thought being an actor, you had to be serious."

"Pineapple Express" was No. 2 at the box office this past weekend.