See the trailer for HBO's "The Deuce" starring James Franco as twin pornographers

The series is executive produced by David Simon, best known for "The Wire"

Published June 1, 2017 12:14PM (EDT)

Pernell Walker, James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal in "The Deuce" (HBO/Paul Schiraldi)
Pernell Walker, James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal in "The Deuce" (HBO/Paul Schiraldi)

The new trailer for "The Deuce," an HBO series from producer David Simon starring James Franco as twin pornography producers in 1970s New York City, just dropped. It's colorful and curious, without revealing too much about the high-concept show.

According to IndieWire, the HBO press release included details on the upcoming series:

Created by George Pelecanos and David Simon and starring James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Deuce” follows the story of the legalization and subsequent rise of the porn industry in New York’s Times Square from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s, exploring the rough-and-tumble world at the pioneering moments of what would become the billion-dollar American sex industry. George Pelecanos, David Simon, James Franco and Nina K. Noble executive produce.

Simon and Pelecanos are best known for their extensive work on the critically acclaimed series "The Wire." Franco will play both Vincent and Frankie Martino, twins who work out of Times Square and become fronts for the Mafia.

On top of Franco, the series will feature Maggie Gyllenhaal in her first return to the small screen since 2014's well received miniseries, "The Honourable Woman." Emily Meade, who has appeared on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" and "The Leftovers," is also onboard for potential star turn.

Franco is no stranger to the hardcore sex on film or representations of the pornography industry. He produced the documentary "Kink" and a short-form conceptual reworking of "Cruising," "Interior. Leather Bar.," in 2013 and starred in "King Cobra" last year.

Recently, the 1970's era has proved a difficult sell for prestige-level, episodic series. HBO's "Vinyl" failed miserably last year and, while critically favored and successful from a viewership standpoint, Netflix cancelled their '70s show "The Get Down" after only one season earlier this month.

"The Deuce" will premiere on HBO September 10.


By Charlie May

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Related Topics ------------------------------------------

David Simon George Pelecanos Hbo James Franco Maggie Gyllenhaal Pornography The Wire The Deuce