HBO has released the first look at “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood” from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and singer-turned-actor Abel “The Weekend” Tesfaye (Uncut Gems, American Dad!). A teaser for the upcoming thriller series, The Idol, dropped today with stars Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp (The King, Voyagers) as lovers wrapped up in the vices of fame and obsession. View the teaser below.
The show is set to explore the darker realms of Hollywood when a young aspiring pop star (Depp) falls head over heart for Tesfaye’s mysterious club owner who is rumored to lead an underground cult. The trailer illustrates these themes with scenes set in darkly-lit nightclubs, spacious mansions, and access to excess.
The series has been in development since early last year, snagging a series order in November. After a few months of production, it went through a major cast and crew overhaul that eventually saw the exit of the series’ director, Amy Seimetz (Pet Sematary, She Dies Tomorrow), and co-star Suzanna Son (Red Rocket). Levinson was reported to have taken a more directing role after Siemetz’s departure.
“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,” a spokesperson for HBO said in April via Deadline. “The production will be adjusting its cast and crew accordingly to best serve this new approach to the series. We look forward to sharing more information soon.”
Levinson and Tesfaye co-created the series with Reza Fahim and will also executive produce. In addition to creating and executive producing, Tesfaye co-wrote the series with writer and executive producer, Mary Laws (The Neon Demon). Joseph Epstein (Snobbery: The American Version, Essays in Biography) is attached as showrunner.
Apart from his recent stints in acting, Tesfaye aka The Weeknd has marveled as one of pop music’s most successful acts today with his fourth studio album, 2020’s After Hours, spawning three #1 singles and reaching double-platinum status by March of 2021. Levinson has taken the TV world by storm with his teenage melodrama, Euphoria, which is nominated for 16 Emmys including Outstanding Drama Series and a record-setting Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nod for Zendaya (Malcolm & Marie, Spider-Man: No Way Home).
The Idol has no set release date.