The Deuce chronicles the rise of the porn industry that began in New York City in 1971-72, driven by the gradual legalisation of porn and a politically motivated effort to "clean up" Times Square. Seizing the chance to cash in on the nascent porn business (and sometimes being consumed by it) are a vivid assortment of characters, including: Vincent Martino (James Franco), a bartender with vision and connections; Frankie Martino (Franco again), Vincent's identical twin, a dangerously freewheeling counterpart to his entrepreneurial brother; Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a self-made, on-the-street sex worker eyeing a new career in porn filmmaking; pimps C.C. (Gary Carr) and Larry Brown (Gbenga Akinnagbe); young prostitutes Darlene (Dominique Fishback) and Lori (Emily Meade); midtown cop Chris Alston (Lawrence Gilliard, Jr.); newspaper reporter Sandra Washington (Natalie Paul); mob capo Rudy Pipilo (Michael Rispoli); disillusioned college student Abby Parker (Margarita Levieva); and others.

Over the course of eight Season 1 episodes, viewers will get an up-close look at a gritty world of sex, crime, high times and sudden violence, as the porn business begins its climb to legitimacy, cultural permanence...and billion-dollar profitability.