Maggie Gyllenhaal joins HBO’s porn pilot ‘The Deuce’ with James Franco

Maggie Gyllenhaal, who recently transitioned to television with The Honourable Woman, has found another TV part. She will star in HBO’s The Deuce with James Franco.

The project is set during the 1970s and 1980s, focusing on the fledgeling pornography industry in New York until the HIV crisis and cocaine epidemic slowed it down. Franco signed on in August and will play a pair of twins who set up their own porn empire.

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Gyllenhaal will star as Eileen Merrell, also known as “Candy.” She is a Times Square hooker who sees a window of opportunity opening in the porn industry.

Filming on The Deuce will start next month. It was created by The Wire’s David Simon, who wrote the series with George Pelecanos. Breaking Bad veteran Michelle MacLaren is directing the pilot.

Gyllenhaal won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy for starring in The Honourable Woman. She was nominated for an Oscar in 2010 for Crazy Heart.

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