'The Idol': the new series from the creator of 'Euphoria'

The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp will star in Sam Levinson’s new HBO series Max, which will also feature Blackpink’s Jennie Kim. The series will premiere its first episode on 4 June.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-IunRD7jMY

‘The Idol’ could be HBO Max’s next big production on par with Euphoria, and creator Sam Levinson is directing the project with the help of artist The Weeknd, who in addition to co-creating, also has a major role in the series.

When the production was unveiled in November last year, the platform revealed the official synopsis: ‘The Idol, set against the backdrop of the music industry, focuses on a self-help guru and modern cult leader who develops a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol’.

Now that we know a little more about the series, ‘The Idol’ follows the story of a new rising pop star, Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp), who falls victim to a predatory music industry figure, Tesfaye, (The Weeknd) beginning a toxic, power-abusing relationship. The series promises to be the most provocative we’ve seen in a long time (replete with sex scenes).

In fact, it appears that “The Idol” changed creative direction after director Amy Seimetz left the project with 80% of the series already shot. The Idol’ began a process of “creative overhaul” because it had a ‘very female perspective’ and Levinson and co-creator Abel took the reins and gave it another look.

Levinson has scrapped virtually all of the footage, weakening its message, and increased the sexual content and nudity: “It started out as a dark satire of celebrity in the 21st century. However, it went from satire to what it was satirizing”. They describe ‘The Idol’ as a toxic male rape fantasy or sexual torture porn.