It’s a match made in a harshly lit, unsterilized heaven: David Simon, creator of Show Me A Hero, The Wire, and Treme, is once again teaming up with HBO to bring a drama to series. This time, the series is all about the origins of the porn industry. It’s called The Deuce. And it will star James Franco. As twins.
The official synopsis of The Deuce points out that it will begin in the seedy era of ’70s Times Square, and move into the ’80s as things begin to go south with the rise and prevalence in HIV. Franco will be playing twin brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino, who were industry stars in their own right (though not performers), but also eventually worked with the mob to control the flow of cash into the industry.
Franco will be joined by Maggie Gyllenhaal, plays Candy, because of course there is a character named Candy in a porn drama. Candy is a Times Square hooker who is drawn to the lucrative porn industry. This is Franco’s second visit to the world of erotica-on-film, his first being his weird, unwatchable recreation of ’80s classic Cruising, titled Interior. Leather Bar.
Simon co-wrote The Deuce with George Pelecanos, who wrote for both Treme and The Wire. Michelle MacLaren (Breaking Bad) directed the series’ pilot. The Deuce‘s has no official airdate.