An American Dream Takes a Dark Turn
Sam Levinson, the visionary director behind ‘The Idol,’ has teamed up with HBO to offer a sneak peek into the show’s captivating storyline ahead of its June 4th debut.
‘The Idol’ stars Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn, an up-and-coming pop starlet on a quest to reclaim her fame after abruptly canceling her last tour. She finds an ally in The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), who portrays Tedros, a nightclub owner and cult leader promising to elevate Jocelyn’s career to unprecedented heights. “You are the American dream,” Tedros tells Jocelyn, pointing out her rise from poverty to wealth and trailers to mansions.
A Tense Atmosphere Unfolds
A foreboding voice later cautions, “He’s brainwashed her,” followed by Tesfaye’s character’s unsettling laughter. “You’re not a human being. You’re a star,” he ominously declares in the trailer’s closing scene.
The stellar cast alongside Depp and Tesfaye includes Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, Jennie Ruby Jane, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Rachel Sennott, Ramsey, Suzanna Son, Hank Azaria. Tesfaye is also credited as the series’ co-creator, alongside Levinson and Reza Fahim.
A Controversial Reception
‘The Idol’ premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last week, earning a five-minute standing ovation from the audience. However, following its private debut, the series received some harsh reviews from critics, with Rolling Stone branding it “nasty, brutal, far longer than it should be, and far, far worse than you might have anticipated.”
It will now be up to audiences to form their own opinions when ‘The Idol’ becomes available for streaming on HBO Max on June 4th. This blend of celebrity, ambition, and potential manipulation ensures an intriguing narrative that is certain to provoke conversation.