James Franco will play two roles in David Simon’s new HBO porn drama

James Franco is going to star alongside none other thanJames Francoin David Simon’s new HBO series about the1970sporn industry. Because, of course.

The series, called “The Deuce,” is the latest from silver-screen auteur Simon (“The Wire,” “Treme”) and promisestochronicletheriseandfallofthepornindustryinNewYorkCity.AccordingtoVariety,Francowill playa pair of twin Times Square playaswho “becamefronts for mob control of the volatile and lucrative sex industry.”

Simon has already penned a pilot with co-writerGeorge Pelecanos, and it sounds … as intense as you would expect from the creators of “The Wire.””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,” teased Pelecanos to Variety.

We don’t know about you, but the idea of a grittier, dirtier,Big Apple-based “Boogie Nights” has us pretty excited. And as much as we eye-rolled at the double-Franco billing, you’ve got to admit: Dudereally shines whenhe’s in weird-sleaze mode (see: “Spring Breakers”).

“The Deuce” will start filming in October.