Subject: James Franco to Star in ‘The Deuce’; HBO Orders Capitol Hill Pilot From David Simon | Variety
From: "Eric Schwerin" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2015 19:39:59 -0400

James Franco to Star in ‘The Deuce’; HBO Orders Capitol Hill Pilot From
David Simon | Variety

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/hobo-the-deuce-david-simon-james-franco-porn-1201557801/

HBO Orders Two David Simon Pilots Including Porn Industry Drama Starring
James Franco

HBO <http://variety.com/t/hbo/> has ordered two drama pilots from “The
Wire” and “Treme” creator David Simon <http://variety.com/t/david-simon/>,
*Variety* has learned.

“The Deuce <http://variety.com/t/the-deuce/>,” a period drama about the
porn industry in the ’70s and ’80s, has James Franco
<http://variety.com/t/james-franco/> attached to star and exec
produce. Michelle
MacLaren <http://variety.com/t/michelle-maclaren/> (“Breaking Bad”) will
direct.

The other pilot is an untitled Capitol Hill project that hails from Simon
and journalist Carl Bernstein.

*“The Deuce,”* set in the Times Square demimonde of the 1970s and 1980s,
explores the legalization and subsequent rise of the porn industry in New
York, looking into the rough-and-tumble world of midtown Manhattan until
the rise of HIV, the violence of the cocaine epidemic and the renewed real
estate market all ended the bawdy turbulence. The project is
partly inspired by the career of twin brothers who were players in the
Times Square world and became fronts for mob control of the volatile and
lucrative sex industry.

Franco will play both twins, in addition to co-producing the series.

Simon penned the pilot, which will film this October in New York, along
with George Pelecanos (“The Wire”,” “Treme”). Richard Price is working
on subsequent scripts. The writing trio, plus MacLaren, Franco and Nina K.
Noble, will all serve as exec producers
<http://variety411.com/us/los-angeles/producers/>. Marc Henry Johnson, who
was instrumental in documenting the story, will also produce.

“We’re interested in what it means when profit is the primary metric for
what we call society,” Simon commented. “In that sense, this story is
intended as neither prurient nor puritan. It’s about a product, and those
human beings who created, sold, profited from and suffered with that
product.”

Pelecanos added, “With ‘The Deuce,’ I’m pleased to continue a creative
collaboration with David Simon and Nina Noble that goes back nearly 15
years, from ‘The Wire’ through ‘Treme.’ Porn, prostitution, pimps, the mob,
after-hours nightlife, institutional corruption and New York in its Wild
West heyday — it’s a world rich in character, and a fascinating story we’re
eager to tell.”

*The Capitol Hill pilot* is described as a modern-day examination
of partisanship and the influence of money on national governance. Noble is
attached to the drama, in addition to a creative team including Ed Burns
(“The Wire”) and William F. Zorzi (“Show Me a Hero”). Bernstein, who will
serve as a co-producer, gained notoriety for his reporting on the Watergate
scandal. The project is set to go into production over the next year, after
“The Deuce.”

The pilot orders mark HBO’s 17-year relationship with Simon and his Blown
Deadline Productions banner. In addition to “The Wire” and “Treme,” Simon
co-wrote and produced miniseries “The Corner” and “Generation Kill,” plus
“Show Me a Hero,” which debuts Aug. 16.

Following the pickup of both pilots, HBO president Michael Lombardo said,
“We are thrilled to continue our longstanding relationship with preeminent
producer David Simon, whose keen eye and visceral perspective on today’s
socio-economic ills have set him apart from all others. No one else creates
with such authenticity, integrity and brilliant realism. We are so
fortunate to support David’s efforts and to reap the benefits of his
distinctive voice.”

Eric D. Schwerin
[email-masked]

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