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This article or section contains information about a subject scheduled to be featured in upcoming Grand Theft Auto Online content.
Please do not add unconfirmed or speculative content unless it can be confirmed by its release or by Rockstar Games.
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Franklin is one of the main protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V.

Background

Franklin was born in South Los Santos, but he never had a family, money or an education to rely on. At some point in his young life, he began the life of a gang banger and dope dealer, but was arrested for it soon afterwards. He decided to give up his old life in the ghetto after he was released from prison.

Events of GTA V

During some point in his life, it turns out that Franklin started to get higher in life when he began street hustling while also working for some Armenian gangsters who own a luxury car dealership, which is a base for them to run their loan-sharking operation. Once they default on there payments, Franklin comes into the picture to play the role of the grim repo man and take the cars from them forcefully. As a result of this, he is frequently seen driving around the city in many seized sports cars.

Even though Franklin is an ambitious hustler, he is tired of being stuck in the life of a low-life common street gang banger in Southern Los Santos, and wants to move ahead in the criminal underworld around the whole of Los Santos. This is when he meets Michael when trying to get a hustle. Both men did a job together and afterwards, Michael saw potential in Franklin which is when Franklin joined Michael and his lunatic friend Trevor. This is where GTA V truely begins.

His personal story is he’s stuck between the allure of two worlds as he begins his ambitious and great rise from the hood. However, his friends are holding him back from doing so and are even trying to get him to come back into the world of small time street crime and gang-banging.

Personality

Franklin is described as ambitious but perhaps to a fault and very eager to take on new illegal challenges by Dan Houser's description. He is also described as a logical way of showing a young man with a lot of hope, with Dan Houser claiming that this would be a nice contrast from Michael. He also is a person that, even though is being mentored by Michael in crime, mentors Michael in life. This helps build up the Father-Son relationship between the two.

Dan Houser's Way of Describing Franklin

“Franklin was the idea of this street hustler in the modern world where the glory days – if there ever were glory days of gang banging – had long since passed. When some of the illusions of this life have been shattered, what do you do now having been in that world? That seemed like an interesting character; a guy in his mid-to-late 20s who wants to move forward but doesn't really know how and is being held back by some of his more idiotic and dangerous friends."

"The idea with Franklin was someone stepping outside their comfort zone and their normal way of doing things, because that way, even though they're still in their mid-20s or whatever, that hasn't worked. That world that they thought they'd be in and be able to make a success of has, thanks to the modern world or the changes in the economy or whatever it is, just failed. It doesn't really exist. They're now looking for something new. A new opportunity. They've gotten their qualifications and gotten all their experience and all they're good at is driving and robbing. How do actually go forward and who do you get to a kind of mentor you? That was a good contrast. The gang-banger in the post-gang-banging world."

Relationships With Other Characters

  • Michael - After meeting Michael and completing a job with him, both men grew a father-son relationship for one another. This was because Franklin never really had a family of his own and saw Michael as a person with more professional skill as a real criminal that could mentor him in the real life of crime.
  • Trevor - Trevor and Franklin's first meeting was nowhere near perfect, as he was cautious of the new recruit and even insulted him and Michael for there father-son relationship. He was eventually able to put his trust into Michael's judgement of Franklin and the two were finally able to get along.
  • Lamar - As stated above, Franklin's relationship with Lamar is a bit unsettle, as Lamar is that maniac who is very funny but dangerous aswell and he is known to be one of the main people holding Franklin back in getting a professional career in criminal life.

Mission Appearances

  • Since Franklin is one of the three playable characters in GTA V, he will appear in almost every mission.
  • Since Franklin is a luxury vehicle repossessor, there may be a few storyline or side missions that will include Franklin repossessing luxury vehicles along with Lamar. 
  • Another Side Mission may be Dirt Bike Racing which he is evidenced doing in the second GTA V Trailer.
  • The Extraction where Franklin provides sniper support to Michael in a nearby building.

Skills and Attributes

Franklin is a very smart young man and is capable of tackling challenging tasks that Michael and Trevor can't do and has a level of physical prowess that both Michael and Trevor lack. As being a repo man he is a skilled person behind the wheel of any car. He is also a deadly shot when it comes to killing people with firearms. As during the GI demo, he was described as being able to make short work of the agents that were interagating the target.

Like Michael and Trevor, Franklin has a special ability where he can slow down time while driving.

Appearance

Franklin has been describe as fit and fashion conscious. He is mostly seen wearing a blue and white button-up shirt, dark blue jeans or black pants with white stripes and a pair of brown or dark yellow boots. In the "Michael, Trevor and Franklin" artwork, he is seen wearing a light yellow plaid button-up shirt and stonewashed blue jeans. He also sported the same outfit in "The Trunk" artwork. He is seen in the "Franklin and Chop" artwork wearing a tank-top, khaki shorts along with a bracelet on his right wrist and a black watch on his right wrist. His body appearance is somewhat chubby, but that's because he wears some clothes that are big for him, (As shown in the second GTA V trailer, where he can be seen in a dirtbike race, with the other racers).

Reception

Just like Michael and Trevor, Franklin has gotten a very positive response from critics and fans of the series. Many saw him as being like one of the old protagonists, such as Carl Johnson or Luis Lopez, but at the same time, different in a way.


Character Trailer


Trivia

  • Franklin is the only protagonist in the GTA series that does not have any really serious criminal past life and who is just starting in being a real professional criminal in the events of GTA V. 
  • Franklin's "beta appearance" can be seen in the first trailer of GTA V. He is thinner, less muscular and has many tattoos.
  • Tommy VercettiNiko BellicJohnny KlebitzLuis Lopez and Franklin are among the protagonists in the series known to have served a prison sentence.
  • Also, Franklin is the second African-American protagonist in the entire GTA Series, with the first being Carl Johnson.
  • In the artwork "Franklin and Chop", many fans claimed that Franklin was a Mexican thug, but it was later confirmed by Dan Houser in the GTA V edition of the Game Informer magazine that he is actually an African-American protagonist in the game.
  • Franklin is seen wearing a black letterman jacket, very simillar to the one worn by Luis Lopez in Grand Theft Auto IV and its DLCs.
  • The song that was played in the Franklin trailer was "Jay Rock - Hood Gone Love It Ft. Kendrick Lamar".

Gallery

Source

  • GameInformer December issue.
  • [1] - Info From Polygon
  • [2] - Info from a translated interview with Dan Houser
  • [3] - Info from an other translated interview with Dan Houser
[ ve ]Characters in Grand Theft Auto V
ProtagonistsMichael De Santa | Franklin Clinton | Trevor Philips
Central charactersLester Crest | Lamar Davis | Dave Norton | Steve Haines | Devin Weston | Harold "Stretch" Joseph | Wei Cheng
Main charactersAmanda De Santa | Jimmy De Santa | Tracey De Santa | Martin Madrazo | Patricia Madrazo | Ron Jakowski | Wade Hebert | Solomon Richards | Molly Schultz | Brad Snider | Chop
Supporting & minor characters
SupportingAndreas Sanchez | Denise Clinton | Fabien LaRouche | Floyd Hebert | Isiah Friedlander | Lazlow Jones | Tanisha Jackson | Tao Cheng | Cheng's Translator | Simeon Yetarian
MinorAaron Ingram | Ahron Ward | Al Di Napoli | Albert Stalley | Alex | Anton Beaudelaire | Art Student | Ashley Butler | Baby D | Barbara Watkins | Blake | Bob Mulét Stylist | Boonie | Brandon Roberts | Brett Lowrey | Carlos | Casey | Cathi | Chad Mulligan | Chico | Chip Peterson | Clay Simons | Curtis Weaver | D | Daisy Bell | Danny | Debra | Denise's Friend | Deputy Grimes | Deputy Kirkman | Dexie | Don Percival | Donato | Donna | Eddie Low | Emanuelle Pasorelli | Enzo Bonelli | Esteban Jimenez | Eva | Ferdinand Kerimov | Freddy Slade | Getaway Driver | Gianni | Glenn Mather | Glenn Scoville | Greg Howles | Grove Street Dealer | Hailey Downs | Haines' pilot | Harvey Molina | Ira Richards | Isaac | Isaac Penny | Jackson | Jackson Skinner | Jaspers | Javier Madrazo | Javier Madrazo's pilot | Jay Norris | Jeff Chartier | Jeff Miller | Jewelry Store Clerk | Joe Lawton | Johnny Klebitz | Jolene Cranley-Evans | Joseph Womac | Julio Fabrizo | Justin | Karen Daniels | Katy Loden | Karina Pearl | Kerry McIntosh | Kidnapper | Kush-Chronic | Kyle Chavis | Larry Loden | Lenny Avery | Leon | Leroy | Libby Doe | Lucien Stark | Magenta Andrews | Mark Fostenburg | Maria | MC Clip | Melisa Porche | Melvin | Molly Schultz's Driver | Moses | Natalia Zverovna | Nelson Strauser | Officer Jernigan | Ortega | Oscar Guzman | Patrick | Ponsonbys Manager | Poppy Mitchell | Porndude | Princess Georgina | Rae | Raul | Rocco Pelosi | Rosalind | Ryan Philips | Spider | Stalker | Stanley | Suburban Clerk | Tahir Javan | Terry Thorpe | Tracker | Triad Knife Assassin | Tyler Dixon | United Liberty Paper contact | Underbelly Of Paradise Cameraman | Union Depository Bank Manager | Unknown LSPD Pilot | Unnamed Bobcat Security Guard | Unnamed Merryweather Pilot | Zeus Karachi
Heist Crew MembersChef | Christian Feltz | Daryl Johns | Eddie Toh | Gustavo Mota | Hugh Welsh | Karim Denz | Karl Abolaji | Norm Richards | Paige Harris | Patrick McReary | Rickie Lukens | Taliana Martinez
Strangers and FreaksAbigail Mathers | Barry | Beverly Felton | Joe | Josef | Manuel | Cletus Ewing | Dom Beasley | Peter Dreyfuss | Madison Fox | Marnie Allen | Miranda Cowan | Jimmy Boston | Tom | Cris Formage | Hao | Josh Bernstein | Mary-Ann Quinn | Maude Eccles | Mrs. Philips | Nigel | Mrs. Thornhill | Omega | Phil | Sasquatch Hunter | Sasquatch Roleplayer | Tonya Wiggins
Random EventsAltruist Cult Victim | Antonia Bottino | Castro Lagano | Drunk Couple | Drunk Driver | Girl Hitchhiking | Gray Nicholson | Groom in Trouble | Lacey Jonas | Runaway Bride | Saeeda Kadam | Space Monkey Street Artist | The Lost Fugitive | The Lost Girl | Timm | Ursula | Prison Escapee | Crazy Groom
Private Taxi FaresThe Three Bankers (Paulie, Clyde and Darren) | Derrick | Kwak | Otis | Felipe | Keyla | Alonzo | Elisa Macallen | Walter | Miranda (Lady of the Best Tailor)
SoapboxersAndy Moon | Andy Whitford | Baygor | Bill Binder | Clinton | Graham | Griff | Impotent Rage cosplayer | Jane | Jerome | Jesco White | Jesse | Mani | Mimes | Pamela Drake
StrippersChastity | Cheetah | Fufu | Infernus | Juliet | Nikki | Peach | Sapphire
O'Neil BrothersElwood | Walton | Wynn | Ernie | Earl | Doyle | Daryl | Dan | Dalton | Ned | Larry | Chester | Dale | Cletus | Don
Radio station characters
Radio hostsBig Boy | Bootsy Collins | Cara Delevingne | Camilo Lara | Don Cheto | DJ Pooh | Gilles Peterson | Flying Lotus | Jesco White | Keith Morris | Kenny Loggins | Mama G | Lee "Scratch" Perry | Nate Williams | Stephen Pope | Soulwax / 2manydjs | Twin Shadow | Chemical Bro | Doctor No | Cliff Lane | Andee | Frank Ocean* | Danny Brown* | Skepta*
Radio guestsMNDR | Eddie | Earl Sweatshirt | Aloe Blacc | Tunde Adebimpe | MC Eiht | Jermaine Renegade | King Avriel
Talk Show hosts
(& assistants)
Michele Makes | Lazlow Jones | Fernando Martinez | Jo | Ron Jakowski | Duane Earl | Bobby June | Ray De Angelo Harris | Cheryl Fawkes
Talk Show guestsSue Murry | Ricky | Jock Cranley | Samantha Muldoon | Brother Adrian | Sophia Bowles-Carmichael* | Reed Tucker
TV Show characters
TV Show hosts
(& assistants)
Lazlow Jones | Hugh Harrison | Anita Mendoza | Imran Shinowa | Steve Haines | Rufus Bellows | Jack Howitzer | Ho Chi Sock
TV Show guestsWilliam Angio | Tracey De Santa
Movie characters
ActorsMilton McIlroy | John Cohn | Theodore Bickford | Charlie Fleming | Chippy | Leo Hornstein
Named PedestriansAdam | Brincat | Clark | Fort Zancudo Colonel | Frederico Nathan | G. James | Lloyd
Internet characters
Lifeinvader usersAaron Fisk | Adric Howard | Alan Felton | Alan McClean | Amy Turner | Anak Horozian | Andre Barnes | Andy Hamilton | Andy Whitford | Barbara Watkins | Benton Cox | Bree Young | Colin Easton | Dana Ellis | Darnell Stevens | Darryl Knox | Deja Medwell | Demarcus Bradley | Dr. Ray De Angelo Harris | Dr. Stanovicz | Dr. Wetherbrook | Duane Earl | Evan Arnold | Fiona Larsson | Foster Matthews | Gary Harby | Gary Scales | Gerald | Gerry Colford | Guadaloupe Romero | Hailey Watson | Hank Terrel | Hayden Dubose | Jamal Reynolds | JB Bradshaw | Karl Kelly | Lahronda Whitfield | Lance Wharrie | Leon | Melinda Dubose | Mary-Ann Quinn's Mother | Moe Chinpoko | Nicolson Bell | Owen Yates | Ray Navarro | Renatta Sidwell | Sacha Yetarian | Susan Chavis | Tavell Clinton | Jenny Tilman | Jane Smith
Bleeter usersAnton Lemeaux | Billy Blue | Bobby Blue | Brother Adrian | Bruce Spade | Brucie Kibbutz | Charlotte Crown | Clay 'PG' Jackson | Cloe Parker | Dale Jenkins | Delancey Medua | Henry Smith IV | Jill Von Crastenburg | Mad Wayne Thunder | Martha Term | Mitch Dexter | Pete | Scott Stephens | The Craze | Tony McTony
Journalists and news reportersFaith Bailey | Anne Bimby | Reed Brazier | Martina Bryans | David Christian | Donna DeSimons | Jerry Donaldson | Mike Dunn | Frank Edwards | Anna Foster | Leslie Gardner | Ian Garraway | Jimmy Henderson | Shelia Hitano | Bucy Joe Houston | John Jackson | Cynthia Kelly | Michael MacKenzie | Gavin McTavern | Kate Ohajan | John Rios | Jeremy Sim | Forrest Simon | Rick Simpson | Joyce Stewart | Makayla Taylor | Jack Vinton | Robin Wark
Mentioned characters
A. Jones | Abe Schwartzman | Ace Jones | Adam Rowney Jr. | Alphonse | Andrew Victoria | Andy Smith | Anne Bimby | Audrey Margaret | Barry Andrews | Barry Wheatsheaf | Betsy O'Neil | Bill Anthony | Billy Dexter | Billy Grey | Blue Brothers | Bob | Bruce Wright | Chip Hampton | Corner Killahz | Daisy Bell | Darius Fontaine | Daryl Bint | David Cho | David Richards | David Shapiro | Dennis Marquez | Derrick McReary | Destiny Arnold | Dick R. Rogers | Donna DeSimons | Doug Richman | Dutch London | Eugene Reaper | Evelyn | Faith Bailey | Francesco Mexi | Francis F. Morton | Frank Brookes | Frank Mathers | Franklin Clinton's mother | Fred Quincy | Gail Gulps | GTA Online Protagonist | Hank Oak | Hugh Bonnar | Hughie McGill | Ira Richards | Joe Oliva | John Bison | Jose | Kill.D.Sac | Kush-Chronic | Lenny Semour | Leonora Johnson | Luis Francesco | Merle Abrahams | Michael Keane | Miriam Turner | Moses | Nicholas | Niko Bellic | Pathos | Phil Davidson | President Joe Lawton | Ronson | Robert | Robert Cholla | Rosby Wilkins | Roy Lowenstein | Ryan Philips | Sam Austin | Sammy Bottino | Shanda Murphy | Sindee Suttin | Slim Skills | Tico | Tommy Smith | Tony Prince | Vasquez | Wayne | Yusuf Amir
Hashtag crewAllie Valasquez | Benita Render | Clinton Aumick | Clinton Salsman | Cody Nishimoto | Connie Bruening | Darren Hohn | Earlene Rivenburg | Ericka Vanderborst | Fernando Gasset | Guy Harrigan | Hugh Rasnick | Julianne Cabaniss | Katy Meaux | Kelly Mease | Lenare Welte | Liza McKiernan | Mallary Focht | Mary Jane Blunts | Nelson Altieri
GANGSTA 101 crewJay Williams III | Alicia Angel | Tony Adventura | P. Dough | Lyndon Moore | G. A. Richman | Doug Richman | Nate Anderson
Removed charactersDale | Jackie | Jordan | Kyle P. Slater | Mrs. A | Mrs. B | Zimbor
* - Anachronistic appearance. Appears in GTA V as part of a radio station ported from GTA Online.
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