In a nutshell:
A new HBO show co-created by Euphoria’s Sam Levinson and The Weeknd, in which the latter will star opposite Lily-Rose Depp, The Idol explores the complicated relationship between a cult leader and a pop star on the rise. Production was halted due to artistic differences between The Weeknd and director Amy Seimetz back in April 2022, but now appears to be back on track.
Is The Weeknd moving into television?
Yes, The Weeknd – real name Abel Tesfaye – is creating this show in collaboration with Reza Fahim and Levinson with A24 for HBO. On top of that, he is involved in pretty much every other aspect of the series, as co-writer, executive producer and star. It will be his first major acting role, following his memorable appearance as himself in Uncut Gems.
What’s the plot of The Idol, exactly?
The log line for the six-part series simply reads: “a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult enters a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol”. It’s presumed that Tesfaye will take the role of the cult leader, while Depp will play the pop star.
Who else is in the cast of The Idol?
The Weeknd has recruited a mix of established names, up-and-comers and real world musicians. In addition to himself and Depp, there’s pop star Troye Sivan, Steve Zissis and Juliebeth Gonzalez. TV On The Radio frontman Tunde Adebimpe will have a recurring role, too, along with Melanie Liburd, Maya Eshet, Tyson Ritter, Kate Lyn Sheil, Liz Caribel Sierra, Elizabeth Berkley, Nico Hiraga, Anne Heche and Finley Rose Slater.
Is there a trailer for The Idol?
Not yet, but on 17 July, HBO released an enigmatic teaser for the new show – and its hallucinatory visual style has shades of Euphoria. It opens with a choreographer putting a group of dancers through their paces, before the camera cuts to frantic shots of someone being given a lap dance, popping champagne bottles, and Depp and Tesfaye reclining in the backseat of a convertible as the music builds to a crescendo.
We also get a glimpse of grand mansions; Depp practicing and then performing a vigorous routine; plates of cocaine; cash being counted; and Tesfaye at the head of a dinner table, asking Depp, “Why don’t you just be yourself?” She scowls at him in response. “Because there’s nothing about me that’s relatable.” Cue wild partying in neon-drenched clubs, Tesfaye and Troye Sivan kicking back on a sun-drenched terrace, and things getting steamy between Tesfaye and Depp in a recording studio. “Do you trust me?” he whispers, and she laughs. “Not really.” Bold, blood red text then invites viewers to enjoy “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood”.
When is The Idol coming out?
Originally slated to be released in 2022, reshoots have set the series back, though it is unclear by exactly how much. The teaser only reveals that the show will be “coming soon”.
What happened with production on The Idol?
The show had already shot four to five episodes – which looked fabulous in leaked set pictures that showed Lily-Rose Depp in a flower-print halterneck two-piece, holding hands with The Weeknd – before things suddenly came to a halt. Amy Seimetz exited as director and it was announced that the series would undergo a change in creative direction. According to unconfirmed reports from on-set sources, Tesfaye took issue with the show making too much of the “female perspective” via his co-star Lily-Rose Depp, rather than his own. (Guess we know who the real idol of this show is supposed to be…) Depp remained on board, but the show was reworked, with changes to both the cast and crew.
Editor
Amel Mukhtar and Radhika SethCredit
Lead image: Getty Images
