Grand Theft Auto characters tend to have standalone appearances. Once their story is done, their future appearances tend to have supporting roles at best. Indeed, while some of these characters did appear in multiple games, rarely did they ever have a similar role in all their appearances. Grand Theft Auto 5 provided an exception to the rule with its “The Contract” storyline in the most recent Grand Theft Auto Online update. Starring Franklin Clinton, one of the main game’s three protagonists, the new content is the first proper addition to a Grand Theft Auto 5 protagonist's story since the game came out in 2013.

While the timeline of Grand Theft Auto Online has been dependent on which mission the player was pursuing, it is clear that the events of “The Contract” take place long after Grand Theft Auto 5’s main storyline. The characters’ age, status, and lifestyle has all visibly changed. Being the main focus of the new content, Franklin’s evolution as a character, including on a physical level, is the most drastic.

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Franklin in Grand Theft Auto 5

gta 5 franklin clinton official art green jacket

Grand Theft Auto 5 was notable for having three playable protagonists, instead of one main character like previous games in the series. The trio represented different criminal archetypes: Michael was the jaded success story, Trevor was the impulsive one with no ambitions beyond wreaking havoc, and Franklin was the younger, inexperienced one who wants to climb the ladder.

While Grand Theft Auto characters, including Franklin, can change their clothing, Rockstar always canonizes a certain design for them through official art. Official artwork of Franklin often depicts him with green clothes, which is his signature color in the game. The color has a few possible meanings: For one, part of Franklin’s story in Grand Theft Auto 5 involves him developing tensions with the Ballas, a street gang in Los Santos that has an infamous rivalry with the Grove Street Families, whose signature color was green in San Andreas. Prior to the events of Grand Theft Auto 5, Franklin was also a drug dealer who sold marijuana.

Lastly, green is the color associated with money, and Franklin's main desire is to find financial success that goes beyond conflicts between Los Santos gangs. Green is also a color used in one of the variations of his company from “The Contract."

Franklin, Eight Years Later

gta 5 the contract screenshot franklin chop lamar

“The Contract” in Grand Theft Auto Online takes place in the present day. Franklin is now in his early 30s as opposed to his mid-20s like in Grand Theft Auto 5. Additionally, Franklin finally starts succeeding at his goals by the end of the main story. He is now a millionaire and a public figure, as well as a family man. Having co-founded a “celebrity solutions agency” called "F. Clinton and Partner" with Grand Theft Auto Online's protagonist, Franklin looks slicker and more professional than he did in casual attire back in 2013. He wears fancy suits, representing the rise to legitimate success he always wished for in Grand Theft Auto 5's main story.

The changes to Franklin's appearance are not just limited to his clothing. His physical appearance is notably different, but not radically. Indeed, while he has definitely aged, his looks are familiar enough to not alienate fans. Aside from his prominent beard, physical changes like wrinkles are subtler. Whatever changes are there show how much Franklin has matured and how professional he became.

In a way, Grand Theft Auto 5 was Franklin’s story; Michael might have been the first protagonist to be properly introduced, and Trevor is the most famous of the three, but Franklin is the one who developed the most. No matter what GTA 5 ending the player picked, he was focused on. "The Contract" allows players to see a new Franklin that managed to climb up the ranks as he wanted to, continuing his development in the process. His new appearance and lifestyle shows that transformation, and signifies the potential new challenges he might face.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are set to release in March 2022.

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