James Franco Tapped For ‘70s Porn Drama Pilot From The Wire’s David Simon

For fans of David Simon‘s genre-defining work, it’s often a case of feast or famine. As the creative behind The Wire, Simon is busy overseeing his upcoming HBO series Show Me a Hero with Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ Oscar Isaac. Not one to rest on his laurels, the prolific scribe will then move on to helm a ‘70s porn drama that has been billed as a understudy of market capitalism.

With Michelle MacLaren directing, it’s understood that The Interview‘s James Franco will star in the show’s pilot. Entitled The Deuce, the mini-series will have Franco play the role of twin brothers. Playing the part of the up-and-coming twins, the characters will be the moneymakers in an burgeoning industry – at least until the abrupt rise in HIV at the time.

Here’s what Simon had to say about the core concept:

“We’re working on it now. I think the scripts are very strong. If it works, it will not be because it’s prurient. It will not be making porn to critique porn. And it won’t work because it’s puritan and sneering at the people that were there when that industry came together after the Supreme Court made it legal. It will work because it’s a story about human beings, and it’s a critique of market capitalism.”

With such a promising premise at his disposal, fans will no doubt be asking when the drama will set up production. According to Simon, plans are in place to shoot the pilot episode replete with James Franco this fall, leaving the fate of the mini-series in the hands of HBO.

 “I hope we’re going to shoot the pilot this Fall. And then, HBO has to decide if they’re going to want it or not.”

The Deuce will step in front of the cameras later this year in the hopes of getting picked up for a series run. With David Simon, Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad‘s Michelle MacLaren and James Franco now attached, we have high hopes for this one.