Next monthh the much-anticipated new HBO drama seriesThe Deuce, starring Oscar-nominees James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal, premieres express from the US on Foxtel’s showcase.
Created by the makers of The Wire and boasting a fine ensemble cast, The Deuce chronicles the rise of the porn industry that began in New York City in 1971-72, driven by a politically motivated effort to “clean up” Times Square by driving pimps and prostitutes off the street and forcing them indoors – and the gradual legalization of porn.
Over the course of eight episodes, this gritty series takes an up-close look at a colourful world of sex, crime, high times and sudden violence, as the porn business begins its climb to legitimacy, cultural permanence – and billion-dollar profitability.
Seizing the chance to cash in on the flourishing porn business (and sometimes being consumed by it) are a vivid assortment of characters, including: Vincent Martino (James Franco), a bartender with vision and connections; Frankie Martino (Franco again), Vincent’s identical twin and a dangerously freewheeling counterpart to his entrepreneurial brother; and Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a self-made, on-the-street sex worker eying a new career in porn filmmaking.
Joining them are pimps C.C. (Gary Carr, Downtown Abbey) and Larry Brown (Gbenga Akinnagbe, Knucklehead); young prostitutes Darlene (Dominique Fishback, Show Me a Hero) and Lori (Emily Meade, The Leftovers); midtown cop Chris Alston (Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., The Wire); mob capo Rudy Pipilo (Michael Rispoli, The Sopranos); disillusioned college student Abby Parker (Margarita Levieva, How to Make it in America) and more.
Executive produced by David Simon, George Pelecanos, Nina K. Noble and James Franco, David Simon’s HBO projects include the series The Wire and Treme, Generation Kill and Show Me a Hero. George Pelecanos is the author of 20 novels including “Hard Revolution” and “The Night Gardener”; he also worked with Simon as a writer/producer on The Wire and a writer/EP on Treme.
Other EPs are Nina K. Noble (The Corner, The Wire, Generation Kill, Treme, Show Me a Hero) and James Franco, who also directed two episodes. Writers include three acclaimed novelists: co-EP Richard Price who wrote and was an EP on HBO’s The Night Of and worked on The Wire; Megan Abbott and Lisa Lutz.
Following its live broadcast on Foxtel’s showcase channel, The Deuce will be available to watch from Foxtel’s on demand library, or streamed on demand on Foxtel’s streaming service, Foxtel Now.
The Deuce Starts Monday, September 11 Express from the US at 11.00am AEST Primetime encore at 8.35pm AEST on Showcase
