The upcoming HBO Max series, starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, promises to be a sensational hit. With the first episode airing on June 4, the show also includes a special appearance by Jennie Kim from Blackpink.
Titled “The Idol,” the series is set to join the ranks of acclaimed productions like “Euphoria,” with Sam Levinson, the mind behind “Euphoria,” leading the project. Alongside Levinson, The Weeknd not only co-created the series but also plays a pivotal role in the story.
Introduced in November of the previous year, the series is set in the world of the music industry and follows a charismatic self-help guru turned cult leader who forms a complex bond with an up-and-coming pop sensation.
As the story unfolds, “The Idol” traces the journey of rising star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp), who becomes ensnared by the predatory Tesfaye (The Weeknd) in the music industry. Their dynamic devolves into a harmful power struggle, making the series a daring and boundary-pushing experience filled with explicit scenes.
It’s worth noting that the series experienced a creative shift after director Amy Seimetz departed with 80% of filming completed. Sam Levinson and co-creator Abel stepped in, spearheading a “creative revision” that distanced the project from its initial “feminine perspective.”
As a result, much of the previously filmed content was scrapped, altering the original intent and amplifying the sexual content and nudity. What initially was a dark satire of modern fame has transformed into a portrayal of the very subject it aimed to critique. Detractors have labeled “The Idol” as the manifestation of a toxic man’s fantasies or as a form of pornographic sexual exploitation.