Whenever The Wire creator David Simon has a new project in the works, we have a good reason to be excited, and that looks set to be the case with his upcoming HBO pilot The Deuce.
Joining James Franco (The Interview) in the series is Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight), and she’s set to also produce the project which is set in the Times Square demimonde of the 1970s and ’80s. As with much of Simon’s work, The Deuce looks to explore an aspect of history which hasn’t really been examined on TV before now.
Here’s the official synopsis, courtesy of Deadline:
The Deuce follows the story of the legalization and subsequent rise of the porn industry in New York, exploring the rough-and-tumble world that existed in midtown Manhattan until the rise of HIV, the violence of the cocaine epidemic and the renewed real estate market ended the bawdy turbulence.
Gyllenhaal is expected to play Eileen Merrell, street name “Candy,” a Times Square hooker and veteran with an entrepreneurial bent who is drawn into the fledgling industry.
Written and executive produced by Simon and George Pelecanos, Michelle MacLaren (Breaking Bad) will be directing the pilot. She came close to helming Wonder Woman for Warner Bros., but creative differences unfortunately brought an end to those plans. Based on her body of impressive TV work though, The Deuce is all the better off for having her involved.
