Dave Franco ‘Roped’ Mason Thames into Working Together on Another Movie (Exclusive)

Dave Franco and Mason Thames are continuing to build their bond after working on their film Regretting You.

Franco, 40, revealed that he had the idea for him and the Black Phone 2 actor, 18, starring together in another film after bonding on the set of the rom-com film based on the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name.

“I had such a great time working with him on [Regretting You] that I roped him into another movie,” Franco told PEOPLE at the New York City screening of Regretting You in October, adding that their next film together was “the complete opposite tone” from their first.

In the The S—heads, Franco is set to play a cynical degenerate named Mark who is paired with O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s David to take part in a shady transport job to transport a wealthy troubled teen named Sheridan (Thames), to rehab, according to a synopsis of the film from Deadline.

However, the trip goes awol with Sheridan’s influence and the group ends up having to deal with “drug-fueled disasters, near-death experiences and criminal encounters.”

“It was incredible seeing [Thames] go from this like sweet, earnest, charming guy in this film, and then arguably the craziest psychopath on screen since Hannibal Lecter in The S—heads,” Franco said.

The Now You See Me star went on to say that he didn’t need to give as “much” advice to Thames, who made his film debut in 2022’s The Black Phone and has since gone on to have three No. 1 films at the box office in 2025, per Vulture.

“[Thames] doesn’t need much [advice]. He’s on such a good path. He’s got a great head on his shoulders,” Franco said.

The respect and admiration for each other’s craft goes both ways. The How to Train Your Dragon star told PEOPLE that he thought of Franco as a sort of “mentor” figure after starring in two films together. 

“Genuinely I think Dave is, he is my mentor, and I look up to him so much,” Thames said. “His work ethic is unlike a lot I’ve seen in my small, tiny little career so far.” 

“But, um, yeah. Gotta love some Dave,” he added with a laugh.

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Franco and Thames aren’t the only ones who formed a close friendship on Regretting You. Allison Williams, 37, previously gushed about getting to work with actress Mckenna Grace, 19, who plays her daughter in the film.

“She’s so smart and talented and sweet and kind, and she’ just the consummate professional, but she’s also just enthusiastic and genuine and interested. She was just a dream collaborator,” she added. “We had so much fun together. It was very natural, honestly.”