HBO has announced that on Monday, September 9 at 9pm the third and final season of The Deuce will premiere. The Deuce tells the story of the rising porn industry in Times Square, New York through the legalization of it. The series takes place in the early 1970s showing the rise of HIV, the cocaine epidemic, and the rise of big businesses in the 1980s as well as the evolving real estate market. Each season of the show takes place in a different time period of New York. The first season takes place in 1971 with the second season picking up in 1977 and the third planned to start in the early 1980s.
HBO’s official synopsis of the third season reads, “Season three of The Deuce brings us into the world of 1985, just as VHS overtakes film as the primary medium for porn production and distribution. The lure of the California sunshine, the city’s aggressive takeover of commercial sex properties in Times Square and the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic mark the end of an era. With the party of the 1970s winding down, 42nd Street has deteriorated into a hive of uncontrolled violent crime and seedy video stores, making urban renewal seem more unlikely than ever before. Following the interconnected lives of Times Square’s barkeeps, prostitutes, pimps, police, mobsters, porn actors and producers, the eight-episode third season of The Deuce brings the series’ arc to a dramatic conclusion.”
The show was created by George Pelecanoes and David Simon who worked on HBO series The Wire and Trime. Pelecanos and Simon executive produce the show alongside Nina K. Noble and James Franco.
James Franco also stars in the series as Vincent Martino and his twin Frankie Martino. HBO released a statement stating that in the third season of the show Vincent finds himself tired and in search of a way out while Frankie is now married with children but continues to flirt with self-destruction. Maggie Gyllenhaal also stars in the show as Candy, who is a director struggling to keep her artistic integrity in this quickly developing industry.
According to HBO’s press release, the returning cast includes Margarita Levieva as Abby, who is the proprietor of the Hi-Hat as wells as an advocate for the artists who start to work for a life after the Deuce. Emily Meade will return as the porn star Lori, who is currently living in Los Angeles and is battling an addiction while working on absorbing the porn business’ move to video-tape. Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. as Chris Alston, is now detailed to the Midtown Enforcement Project and working alongside Gene Goldman’s Luke Kirby to work on the city’s plan to fix Midtown. Chris Bauer will return as the French Parlor manager Bobby, who starts to lose his piece in the sex trade. Chris Coy is the gay businessman and entrepreneur Paul, who is forced to confront the AIDS epidemic. Michael Rispoli is returning as mob capo Rudy, who leans on Martino brothers to gain a larger profit.
Other familiar faces include David Krumholtz’ veteran pornographer Harvey, Daniel Sauli’s Tommy Longo, who is working to improve his position in the Gambino family. Olivia Luccardi as Melissa, who is an amateur porn actress that must confront her past. The final returning face is Sepideh Moafi as Loretta the bartender at Hi-Hat who is also involved in the feminist anti-porn movement.
In HBO’s press release they included a list of guest stars including Zoe Kazan, from HBO’s The Plot Against American, Mustafa Shakir, from Jett, Roberta Colindrez, from I Love Dick, Kim Director, from She’s Gotta Have It, Corey Stoll, from House of Cards, Aaron Dean Eisenberg, from Public Morals, Michael Gandolfini, from Ocean’s Eight, and Ralph Macchio, from The Karate Kid.
HBO also announced the writers for the upcoming season include Simon, Pelecanos, Carl Capotorto, Iturri Sosa, Will Ralston, Chris Yakaitis, and Stephani Deluca. The directors for the season include Alex Hall, Susanna White, Tanya Hamilton, Roxann Dawson, and James Franco.
Simon tweeted, “We’re always conjuring the last scene before we write the first. So much the better when we work for people who allow us to consistently plan, arc and execute as intended. Thanks @HBO, for the third and final season renewal and the chance fro #thedeuce to tell its full story.”
The news of the third season being the final season was not a large surprise. Since the show premiered Simon, Pelecanos, and the cast have stated they never intended the show to last longer than three seasons.
Season 3 of the show is made up of eight episodes, and HBO has released official synopses for the first four episodes.
According to HBO, Season 3, Episode 1 is titled ‘The Camera Loves You.’ It takes place on the eve of 1985, a worn-out Vincent (James Franco) reconnects with his ex-wife, Andrea (Zoe Kazan) as his open relationship with Abby (Margarita Levieva) grows more distant. Despite becoming a family man, Frankie (James Franco) continues his risky side hustles. With the newly dominant VHS format shaking up their industry, Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Harvey (David Krumholtz) travel to Las Vegas for an adult film convention where they disagree on how to navigate a fast-changing future. Fresh out of rehab in Los Angeles, Lori (Emily Meade) is put back to work. Alston (Lawrence Gilliard) makes a very specific request of Goldman (Luke Kirby) in their quest to revitalize Midtown. Now a bartender at the Hi-Hat, Loretta (Sepideh Moafi) becomes an active member of Women Against Pornography. It is written by David Simon & George Pelecanos and directed by Alex Hall.
Season 3, Episode 2 is titled ‘Morta di Fame’ and will premiere on Monday, September 16. Frankie (Franco) takes his amateur porn business to the next level and ends up in a confrontation with Rudy (Michael Rispoli), who pushes Vincent (Franco) to up his profits. Candy (Gyllenhaal) brainstorms a new film based on the experiences of her fellow sex workers and finds that her new beau Hank (Corey Stoll) is not shaken by her past. Abby (Levieva) and Loretta (Moafi) take care of Shay (Kim Director) when she shows up to the Hi-Hat in bad shape. Lori (Meade) is advised to be more compliant after she dares to stand up for herself on set. Alston (Gilliard) is tasked with finding the mysterious owner of a prime piece of Midtown real estate. With the future of his businesses up in the air, Paul (Chris Coy) worries about his partner Todd’s (Aaron Dean Eisenberg) health. It is written by Carl Capotorto and directed by Susanna White.
Season 3, Episode 3 is titled ‘Normal Is a Lie’ and will premiere on Monday, September 23. Abby (Levieva) befriends a graffiti artist named Pilar (Paloma Guzman) and takes a surprising trip downtown. Candy (Gyllenhaal) sets a firm line with Hank when it comes to money. As Todd’s (Aaron Dean Eisenberg) health worsens, he reexamines his priorities and asks for Paul’s (Coy) support. Melissa (Luccardi) is forced to face her past. Alston (Gilliard) explores different strategies for getting a shady SRO owner to sell. Bobby (Bauer) pays Joey (Michael Gandolfini) a visit on Wall Street as Joey’s latest money-making scheme grows bigger. Tensions rise between Frankie (Franco) and Rudy (Rispoli) as a buyer complains about Frankie’s product. It is written by Iturri Sosa and directed by Tanya Hamilton.
Season 3, Episode 4 is titled ‘They Can Never Go Home’ and will premiere Monday, September 30. Lori (Meade) returns to New York for an audition and runs into some familiar faces. While searching for actors for her new film, Candy (Gyllenhaal) speaks to her critics at a Women Against Pornography meeting. As things heat up with Jennifer (Kelcy Griffin), Alston (Gilliard) takes a drastic step to deliver for Goldman (Kirby). Melissa (Luccardi) leaves the city. Abby (Levieva) grows closer to Pilar (Paloma Guzman) as her relationship with Vincent (Franco) wanes. Vincent and Frankie celebrate an eventful birthday. It is written by Will Ralston and is directed by James Franco.