James Franco Is Literally Extra in HBO Porn Drama ‘The Deuce’ Photos

Look, there’s no two ways about the fact that James Franco playing mustachioed twins for The Wire creator David Simon’s ‘70s New York porn drama is funny. There is no ceiling on “Peak Franco,” and these first official photos from The Deuce certainly aren’t about to find one.

Having previously debuted a scant few frames of footage with HBO’s 2017 trailer, The Deuce now releases its first official photos to Entertainment Weekly, including Franco and co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal. Perhaps lost among the laughter, it’s also worth noting that Franco actually directs three of the series’ eight episodes.

And from the prior trailer:

Developed with Simon’s frequent collaborator George Pelecanos, The Deuce follows legalization and subsequent rise of the porn industry in New York’s Times Square from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s. Franco plays twin porn kings Vincent and Frankie Martino, with Gyllenhaal playing Eileen “Candy” Merrell,  a Times Square hooker with entrepreneurial aspirations.

Its pilot directed by Michelle MacLaren, the series seeks to chronicle “the rough-and-tumble world that existed in midtown Manhattan until the rise of HIV, the violence of the cocaine epidemic and a rejuvenated real estate market ended the bawdy turbulence.” Also starring are The Leftovers alum Emily Meade, Anwan Glover, Lawrence Gilliard Jr, Michael Rispoli, Chris Bauer, David Krumholtz, Ralph Macchio, Zoe Kazan, Garry Pastore and more.

HBO has yet to set a formal premiere for the eight-episode season, but watch the first footage below, and stay tuned for more on The Deuce as it arrives.