HBO’s The Idol trailer gives viewers a first look at the upcoming show from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. Since the premiere of Euphoria, Levinson’s career has skyrocketed.
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is best known for his musical career and stylish music videos, which have garnered several nominations and an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.
Now, HBO has released The Idol trailer, which promises “the sleaziest love story in Hollywood.”
The Idol will mark Tesfaye’s debut as an actor, writer, and co-creator alongside Levinson and Reza Fahim. Tesfaye is joined by stars such as Lily-Rose Depp, Jennie from BLACKPINK, and Troye Sivan in the series.
Levinson’s approach of using iconic outfits, striking lighting choices, and some twists and turns, combined with Tesfaye’s creative input, makes the show compelling enough to look forward to.
While much about the show is shrouded in mystery, here’s everything we know about The Idol.
A Hollywood love story and…a cult?
The trailer doesn’t give away too much detail but promises a very “sleazy” Hollywood love story. A story about partying and tumultuous love lives that often accompany stars in the music industry is nothing new, but adding a cult element could give it a new perspective.
The Star Cast
Troye Sivan appears in the trailer in an unspecified role. Jennie from BLACKPINK also makes an appearance. Rachel Sennott, the star of Shiva Baby, was also on set.
There have been a number of casting announcements for the show in the past year, including Melanie Liburd (This Is Us), Tunde Adebimpe (Rachel Getting Married), Steve Zissis (Happy Death Day 2 U), Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Showgirls), Nico Hiraga (Booksmart), Anne Heche (Six Days Seven Nights), Juliebeth Gonzalez, Maya Eshet (Teen Wolf), Tyson Ritter (Preacher), Kate Lyn Sheil (House of Cards), Liz Sierra (God’s Time), and Finley Rose Slater (Playing With Fire).
However, following the overhaul of the show that was announced earlier this spring, it is unclear what the final cast list will look like.
Why was the show overhauled?
HBO told Deadline in April that the cast and crew of The Idol were being adjusted mid-production due to a “new approach” to the show.
Here’s what a spokeswoman for the network had to share about the overhaul:
“The Idol’s creative team continues to build, refine, and evolve their vision for the show and they have aligned on a new creative direction. The production will be adjusting its cast and crew accordingly to best serve this new approach to the series.”
Following this, news broke that director Amy Seimetz (The Girlfriend Experience), set to oversee every episode of the series, had parted ways with the team. Susanna Son (Red Rocket), who played a cult member in the series, reportedly also left.
According to Deadline, Tesfaye was unhappy with the show’s creative direction, feeling that it “leaned too heavily into the female perspective.” However, IndieWire reported that Depp’s character has always been the focal point of the show.
Despite the creative team’s effusive support for the script and rough assembly, Tesfaye “later voiced his concerns and wanted reshoots.”
While there is still a lot to know about the upcoming show, fans can expect a premiere date for The Idol, along with additional details, in the months ahead.
About The Idol
The Idol is an upcoming American drama television series created by Abel “the Weeknd” Tesfaye, Reza Fahim, and Sam Levinson for HBO. Set against the backdrop of the music industry, the series will focus on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult who enters into a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol. Lily-Rose Depp and Tesfaye are set to star in the leading roles, with Troye Sivan, Debby Ryan, Rachel Sennott, Jennie Kim, Steve Zissis, Hari Nef, and Juliebeth Gonzalez appearing as supporting characters.
Source: HBO
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