James Franco will join ABC's General Hospital as a guest star for a lengthy story arc this fall.

The Pineapple Express and Spider-Man actor will play a mystery person who comes to the soap opera's town of Port Charles. The recurring role will begin Nov. 20 -- to coincide with November sweeps -- and will last about two months.

Executive producer Jill Farren Phelps says it's "an honor that an actor of Franco's caliber would choose to spend some of his valuable time in Port Charles."