By Thomas Chau in Los Angeles

Fans of the Spider-Man comics know about Harry Osborne’s inevitable downfall to darkness, as the “Return of the Green Goblin” storyline has been one of the most popular Spider-Man stories amongst Marvel fans. The ending of the first “Spider-Man” movie left us with the impression that Harry would vow revenge on the webslinger for the death of his father, Norman Osborne - not knowing that his dad with the Green Goblin and perhaps more tragically - not knowing that his best friend Peter Parker is actually Spider-Man.

In “Spider-Man 2,” James Franco gets the opportunity to show his vengeful side, as Harry’s relationship with Peter intensifies. No longer roommates, Peter finds it difficult to be around his former best friend, as Harry constantly criticizes Peter for hanging around the man thought to have killed Norman Osborne. When an experiment under the research of Doctor Octavius goes wrong, Harry sees this as an opportunity to accomplish the one mission he has in life: Kill Spider-Man.

Below, James talked to us at a press interview in Los Angeles about the sequel, and also possibly donning the Green Goblin costume for “Spider-Man 3.”

Q: Your character is happy in this movie for only a brief time it seems…

JAMES: The happiness you're talking about is when he thinks the business is going to succeed. He's very invested in the business because it's his father's business and his whole life, he's been trying to please his father. Now that he's gone, maybe that is the one way he can still please the ghost of his father, so there is a bit of hope there, but underlying out there, I think there is still a deep sadness because no matter what he does, he'll still never be able to get that acceptance because the father is gone.

Q: What did you want to bring to the character this time?

JAMES: Well, I don't think we changed the script much. I was so pleased with the script, I called the last writer on the script, Alvin Sargent and thanked him because I just thought it was so solid and he gave me so much to do. I really didn't want to change much. I guess all we talked about and all I brought up was reinforcing the arc of the character and how important the element of his father's love and acceptance and all that is and just bringing that about by making the hope and eagerness to succeed in the business bigger, and just really tying in the father more.

Q: Are you looking forward to see your character develop for “Spider-Man 3”?

JAMES: Am I looking forward to it? Yes. It's been a great experience and Sam is wonderful to work with. I know whatever happens in the third one –

Q: Becoming the new Goblin?

JAMES: That's what happens in the comics, but I don't think Sam will be predictable anyway.

Q: Is Sam Raimi the right person to do this movie?

JAMES: Yeah, he brings a relaxed atmosphere. But he's also very serious. I think everything he does, there's a nice mix. He brings kind of a dark feel while also making things a bit comedic and as a director, he's very relaxed and very kind but he takes the movie very seriously and somehow gets what he wants even by being easy and relaxed. Yeah, he's a funny guy.

Q: Did the success of the first Spider-Man movie change your career?

JAMES: Yes, I guess back then, when that one came out, I had done James Dean and I got a lot of critical acclaim for that but it was still a television movie and then “Spider-Man” came out and kind of the combination helped a lot. So yeah, I was offered a lot more.

Q: Why do you think Spider-Man is so popular around the world?

JAMES: Well, I'm not up on like how popular he was compared to others, but I assume he's a very popular character. But I think of course there's a lot of comic book films out now and more coming, but Spider-Man I think is the most successful and I think the secret is the story is the best. Sam and [producers] Avi [Arad] and Laura [Ziskin] and the writers and everyone focus on the characters more and it's true. Before we did the first one, we spent weeks going through the characters and building up the scenes between the action. I guess the point is they really tried to bring more than just the action and the scenes in between action are not filler. It's really touching and I think the second one even more so. I think the second one is 10 times better. There's no doubt about it and it's because of the story. I mean, the action is better too but the story is as well.

Q: How do you deal with celebrity now?

JAMES: I don't know. It hasn't changed much. The first time I was confronted with more than one person coming up to me was in D.C. and there was some junior high field trips and I was in the cafeteria and but other than that, my life hasn't been much different except a few kids on the street [ask me to] sign things.

Q: How do you look back on “Freaks and Geeks” now that the series is on DVD?

JAMES: That was an early project for me and I really didn't know how things worked. I guess Judd Apatow, the producer, had the confidence that even if it didn't make it as a show, that he would make it the best he could and it would eventually be released on DVD as it was and it's a great, great DVD set. But at the time, we didn't know and it would go off the air and we'd still be shooting episodes. It was demoralizing, but it turned out great.

Q: Do you find a lot of people approach you for that?

JAMES: I do actually, yeah. A lot of people love “Freaks and Geeks.” That as much as anything.

Q: Do you have any interests outside of acting?

JAMES: I've been directing. I've directed two small budget films this year. One is called “The Ape” and one is called “Fool's Gold.” That's just kind of been for fun. They're based on plays I wrote with a partner and I used people from the theater group that were in the play, so that's an interest. And I've just been boxing I guess for Annapolis.

Q: Is directing an ambition you hold?

JAMES: Yeah, but I guess the nice thing about these two is I financed them and there's really no pressure to succeed. I don't need it. I can support myself on the acting and I don't need this to break in or anything.

Q: What superhero power would you want to have?

JAMES: What would you do?

Q: Everyone tends to say flying…

JAMES: Speed-reader.

"Spider-Man 2" opens in theaters June 30th.