Franco pulls out of commencement speech

James Franco has pulled out of his commitment to give a commencement speech at his alma mater of the University of California, Los Angeles.

The Milk actor was to deliver the address to the college’s Letters and Science graduates on June 12, The Los Angeles Times reports.

"I deeply regret not being able to keep my commitment to giving the commencement speech at UCLA's graduation this year," Franco said in a statement. "Unfortunately the date conflicts with me needing to be on location to begin pre-production on my next film.

"I wish everyone in the 2009 class the best of luck in all of their future endeavours."

The Pineapple Express star attended the school for one year in 1996, and returned ten years later to obtain a bachelor’s degree in creative writing. However, his invitation to speak was met with protest from some students in March.

The University's selection committee has reached out to other potential candidates to fill the vacated slot, but no substitute has been confirmed yet, according to a campus spokesperson.