One of the most controversial shows of the year is almost ready for its premiere. Filming on The Weeknd and Sam Levinson’s “Sick and Twisted” The Idol was delayed in April 2022 due to the singer’s busy schedule surrounding the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The project was first revealed on June 29, 2021.
In the new HBO series The Idol, played by Lily-Rose Depp, we follow Jocelyn, a wannabe pop idol whose tour is canceled after she suffers a nervous breakdown. A sleazy producer and the current cult’s leader, Tedros (The Weeknd/Tesfaye) manipulates her into a universe of sex, drugs, and pop culture in order to help her achieve her goal of being America’s sexiest pop singer.
The Idol Release Date
On June 4th, 2023, The Idol will debut on HBO Max. Unlike other streaming services, which often release entire seasons at once, this one will release new episodes of the show every week. This is an unusual format for an HBO Max show, but they have used it before.
It’s important to note, though, that The Idol has the primetime Sunday slot on HBO Max. House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and Euphoria, three of the most popular shows on HBO Max, have also occupied this slot. The platform must have a lot of faith in The Idol to give it such a prominent placement.
The Idol Storyline
The Idol is billed as “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood” and centers on a pop singer who falls in love with a mysterious club owner who also appears to be the leader of a secret cult. And it’s quite obvious from the previews that Depp will play the singer and Tesfaye will play the club owner.
On his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour, he gave fans a sneak peek at the new performance by showing them a clip from the “twisted minds” of Levinson and Tesfaye, about a rising star who is dragged into the cult leader’s orbit. Honestly, it has a lot of the same sensations as Euphoria, but the characters are grownups, thus the stakes are higher in terms of after-work and leisure pursuits.
The Idol Cast and characters
Main
- Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn, an up-and-coming pop idol and Tedros’ love interest
- Finley Rose Slater as younger Jocelyn
- Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye as Tedros, a self-help guru, the leader of a modern-day cult
- and Jocelyn’s love interest
Supporting
- Suzanna Son as Chloe
- Troye Sivan as Jocelyn’s creative director, Xander
- Moses Sumney as Izaak
- Jane Adams as a director for Jocelyn’s music video
- Dan Levy as Jocelyn’s agent
- Jennie Ruby Jane
- Eli Roth as Jocelyn’s uncle
- Rachel Sennott as Jocelyn’s assistant, Leia
- Hari Nef as a model
- Da’Vine Joy Randolph as a legendary soul singer
- Mike Dean as a music producer
- Ramsey as herself
- Hank Azaria as Jocelyn’s father
- Melanie Liburd as Jenna
- Tunde Adebimpe
- Elizabeth Berkley
- Nico Hiraga
- Anne Heche
- Maya Eshet
- Tyson Ritter
- Kate Lyn Sheil as Amy
- Liz Caribel Sierra
- Karl Glusman as a bartender
- Sophie Mudd
- Charly Summer
- Mitch Modes as a drummer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gafzgRqqHJw&pp=ygUQdGhlIGlkb2wgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D
The Idol Trailer
On July 17, 2022, the first trailer for The Idol was shown. The trailer doesn’t reveal much about the story or the characters. However, it does establish the general mood. The glitz and glamour of Hollywood, together with the partying, dancing, drugs, romance, fast cars, sex, and more. Jocelyn’s connection with Tedros was also hinted to in the teaser, with Tedros asking, “Do you trust me?” and Jocelyn responding, “Not really.”
The second teaser wasn’t much more revealing than the first when it was out on August 21, 2022. It clarifies which original cast members remained in the show after reshoots and informs us that the show is coming “from the gutters of Hollywood.”
The newest The Idol trailer puts the spotlight on Tesfaye and Depp’s roles. The tone of the show is immediately set. Even in the lighter moments, the film’s use of lighting echoes Levinson’s prior work in creating an unsettling atmosphere.
Where can I watch The Idol?
There will soon be an Idol on both HBO and Max.