Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, may be a massive star, breaking streaming statistics and Guinness World Records. Unfortunately, his musical success hasn’t yet translated into his budding television career. According to Deadline, HBO has officially canceled his original series The Idol.
A spokesperson for the network released a statement regarding the decisions, saying, “The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response. After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers, have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work.”
Before the show’s release, rumors surrounding it quickly turned many fans off. The Weeknd spoke out against the criticism and even clapped back at people online who shared negative opinions on the series. But, it was all in vain, as The Idol went on to earn the lowest rating on Rotten Tomatoes for any HBO series ever.
The Weeknd later opened up about the “bumpy journey” it took to arrive at the show’s finale. The series’ other featured actors, including Blackpink’s Jennie, Troye Sivan, and Lily-Rose Depp, have not yet released any public statements.
Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has been pretty busy with his new show. He teamed up with The Weeknd to make The Idol for HBO. The show was popular but undeniably bashed by critics for its acting and storylines. Now that the show is wrapped up he’s likely to turn his attention back to Euphoria, just in time for one of the show’s stars to drop his new music. Dominic Fike returned with his sophomore album Sunburn last week. According to Uproxx, Fike told Zane Lowe in a recent interview that he was almost fired from Euphoria altogether.
“I was so f*cked up during a lot of that show.” Fike went on to explain that it was almost too much for the production team. “I was reprimanded for it. I almost, you know, got kicked off the show,” Fike told Lowe in the interview. He goes on to elaborate on the ways the production tried to keep him sober. “Sam the director and writer, got me a sober coach, somebody to be there all the time,” Fike said. “It did not work.” If all of this sounds familiar it’s because File has told similar stories before. Last year he told an interviewer that he took mushrooms before an audition and it didn’t go well.
Dominic Fike Almost Got Kicked Off “Euphoria”
Dominic Fike’s new album Sunburn only has one feature on it, alt-rock band Weezer. Since neither his breakthrough demos project nor his debut album contain any features it’s the first song on any of his albums to contain one. The album was preceded by singles like “Ant Pile,” and “Mama’s Boy.” He also formally announced it with a teaser trailer posted to his Instagram back in May.
Since his last album Dominic Fike has collaborated with numerous other artists like Justin Bieber, Halsey, and Remi Wolf. He’s also crossed over into hip-hop a few times. He appeared on the Slowthai song “terms” alongside DDenzel Curry. What do you think of Dominic Fike almost getting kicked off of “Euphoria”? Let us know in the comment section below.
Per an on-set source who spoke to Page Six, The Idol showrunner and director Sam Levinson “ordered” The Weeknd to film a scene in which his character rapes the character played by Lily Rose-Depp. According to the source, Levinson made a surprise mid-scene adjustment during the shooting of a sex scene for the show’s fourth episode. Levinson reportedly “explicitly directed” The Weeknd to have Tedros “strangle” Jocelyn before ejaculating inside her. Furthermore, these non-consensual elements of the scene were not in the original script. However, the scene was reportedly cut from the episode entirely.
Levinson was “by the monitor, laughing and feeding lines to Abel’s character, like, ‘I own you,’” the source alleges. While The Weeknd and Rose-Depp did the scene as instructed, many of the production staff present found it “extremely disturbing.” Additionally, the show’s intimacy director, Mam Smith, declined to comment on the scene when approached by Page Six. The revelation is in spite of the source also claiming that Levinson “does not take issues of consent lightly” and “was committed to creating a safe, collaborative, and mutually respectful working environment on set.”
Surprise Rape Scene Latest “The Idol” Horror Story
Sam Levinson, Lily-Rose Depp and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye le 23 mai 2023 à Cannes. (Photo by Laurent KOFFEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
However, this is just the latest story from the set of The Idol, whose production is almost as infamous as the finished product. “It was, let’s just say, a shitshow,” one producer told Rolling Stone in a scathing investigation into the show’s creation. On the surface, it appeared that the show, looking to bank off the infamy and name recognition of Levinson, was rushed into production to fill the Sunday night HBO slot vacated by House of the Dragon. That led to shooting delays, multiple reshoots, and even massive script rewrites.
But the problems only go deeper. Original series director Amy Seimetz reportedly left 80% of the way through production. She claimed she felt forced out, with The Weeknd allegedly claiming that the show, for which he serves as co-creator, was leaning into too much of a “female perspective” with Seimetz at the helm. That led to Levinson taking over, scrapping everything Seimetz had done, and starting from scratch. Additionally, The Weeknd has been described as “egomaniacal” by on-set sources. All of this culminated in a show that has been panned by audiences and critics. The Idol will air its final episode on July 2. Furthermore, HBO is yet to officially cancel the show or greenlight a second season.
The Idol is a gripping HBO drama television series that is captivating audiences in the US and Canada. Co-created by award-winning musician The Weeknd, Euphoria showrunner Sam Levinson, and Reza Fahim, this show takes viewers on a riveting journey through the highs and lows of the music industry.
The Unique Appeal Of The Idol
What sets this new show apart from other drama series? In addition to its immersive narrative, The Idol boasts an impressive lineup of talent. Starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, who portrays a rising pop icon named Jocelyn, the series features appearances from real-life artists such as Jennie Kim from K-Pop supergroup Blackpink, multi-instrumentalist Moses Sumney, and producer Mike Dean. This fusion of fiction and reality enhances the authenticity of the show, making it a must-watch for music and drama enthusiasts.
The Idol series poster displayed on a laptop screen and Max logo displayed on a phone screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on June 8, 2023. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
For those eager to dive into this provocative drama, The Idol is readily accessible in the US and Canada. The series can be streamed on Max, Max Amazon Channel, DIRECTV, and Spectrum On Demand. This range of streaming options allows viewers to enjoy The Idol on their platform of choice. This ensures a seamless viewing experience wherever you can get the available streaming options.
The 4K Experience
To further enhance the viewer’s experience, The Idol is available in 4K. This high-resolution format provides unparalleled image quality, immersing viewers in the intricate world of the music industry. With every frame, viewers can appreciate the meticulous production design and high-quality cinematography that goes into creating The Idol.
TOPSHOT – (From L) Canadian singer Abel Makkonen Tesfaye aka The Weeknd, French-US actress Lily-Rose Depp and US director Sam Levinson arrive for the screening of the film “The Idol” during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 22, 2023. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
The new show is sure to have a dedicated fanbase, eagerly awaiting every twist and turn in this dynamic narrative. To keep up with the latest streaming news and updates about The Idol, platforms like JustWatch provide comprehensive information. JustWatch gives you streaming options, release dates, and more.
Conclusion/TLDR
“The Idol” is more than just a television series; it’s a journey into the heart of the music industry, filled with compelling characters, emotional depth, and raw talent. Whether you’re in the US or Canada, numerous streaming platforms make it easy to join the journey. With the added bonus of 4K streaming, you can fully immerse yourself in the intense drama and captivating performances that make “The Idol” a standout series. Don’t miss out on this unique viewing experience – tune in to “The Idol” today!
Yesterday (May 22), HBO’s upcoming series The Idol premiered at Cannes. Attendees got to view the first two of the upcoming six episodes of the Sam Levinson and The Weeknd-helmed series, which is set to premiere next month.
While anticipation is high for the series — which is said to tell the story of a pop star named Jocelyn (Lily Rose Depp) who falls in love with a cult leader named Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye) — the show appears to have been panned by critics. We’ll spare some of the more graphic details, but we’ve included portions of some of the reviews below.
Rolling Stone, who published an exposé about the show’s allegedly harsh production conditions, said that The Idol was even more scandalous than they imagined.
“The double-dose the festival screened felt nasty, brutish, much longer than it is, and way, way worse than you’d have anticipated,” read the review.
Variety described The Idol as a “sordid male fantasy” and said the show’s script “seems calculated to fool audiences into thinking they’re observing how Hollywood operates, when so much of it amounts to tawdry clichés lifted from Sidney Sheldon novels and softcore porn.”
The Hollywood Reporter called The Idol “an HBO series that’s more regressive than transgressive.”
Kid Cudi is about as accomplished as they come in terms of rapper/actors. In addition to an active and beloved music career, he regularly pops up in high-profile shows and movies, like Westworld, Don’t Look Up, and his own Entergalactic. Now, he’s getting back in the saddle with a new movie project.
Deadline reports that Cudi is set to star in (and co-produce) Hell Naw, Sony Pictures’ “action horror-comedy” produced by Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. Keith and Kenny Lucas, aka The Lucas Brothers, are writing the script. Of the movie, Deadline notes, “The plot is being kept under wraps, but we do know the film is set during Paris Fashion Week and there will be zombies.”
Cudi says of the project, “This movie has been five years in the making. I am telling the world now, this film will f*ck you up in all the best ways. I have been a horror fan since I was 7 years old, the first horror movies I ever saw were Night Of The Living Dead and Evil Dead. And from that point on, I was hooked on the feeling of being frightened. I’ve been wanting to get into this world creating my own stories for a long time, and now, and after years of working it out in my head, it’s finally happening. Sam, The Lucas Brothers, and myself have really crafted a tale we feel everyone who’s a fan of horror and comedy will enjoy. You will laugh, oh yes you will, but the horror aspect of this movie will really be something to see. You will be shook. I promise. Y’all know I don’t play around.”
Abel Tesfaye — better known as The Weeknd — might be the most popular artist in the world by the numbers, but he isn’t immune to criticism — and he certainly seems not to be ignoring it, at least when it comes to the pending release of his hotly anticipated HBO show The Idol. After Rolling Stone published an investigative piece in which the show’s troubled production was castigated by crew members and Abel himself was indirectly blamed for the show’s revamped, controversial direction, he responded by posting a scene from the show in which his character derides the magazine as “irrelevant.”
It looks like he isn’t done addressing the drama just yet, either. Speaking to playwright/filmmaker Jeremy O. Harris for Interview magazine, Tesfaye defended the show and his collaborator Sam Levinson (of Euphoria fame/infamy), arguing that “you can’t please everybody” and blaming the show’s preemptive reception on hurtful rumors.
That’s what I’m learning about the film business, is that when people start rumors, it really does hurt a lot of other people,A lot of people work hard on these projects. When I’m in my world, and you guys are coming at me, it’s like, alright, cool. I’m a big boy. I can figure it out. But you have 200 people working hard on a project like this, that hurts. Especially when what they’re saying is far from the truth, but, what can you do?
While he didn’t quite get into what parts weren’t true or why, he did explain that his “thick skin” helps him to deal with the critics.
I’m used to it more than someone like Sam, who’s probably a little bit used to it now. And I’m sure Lily, definitely—Lily’s stronger than both of us. But I’ve been judged since the beginning. My stuff’s always kind of been provocative. I understand it’s hard for people to separate that sometimes and that some people want to have an opinion about you, even if it’s not true. As an artist, you have to know that you can’t please everybody, and you have to accept that it comes with the job. You have to remind yourself that everybody that knows you, knows you’re a good person. If you’re going out there trying to prove to people you’re a good person all the time, then it becomes like a dead end. But what I’ve learned is, with time people will learn to understand. But I have thick skin. I’m used to it.
The Idol is scheduled to premiere out-of-competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May, so perhaps the show really is finished after all — and we’ll start to get some sense of what its “real world” reception will actually be.
It feels like it’s been ages since Variety first reported The Weeknd was co-creating a forthcoming HBO series, The Idol, with Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson. Enough nonsense has happened since July 2021 — scratch that, enough has happened just today, March 1 — to satisfy a six-episode arc, making it even more confusing to identify when The Idol‘s first season will actually premiere.
The Idol was already off to a rocky start. It was reported last April that the series was undergoing “an overhaul” due to a “new creative direction,” including the departure of director Amy Seimetz.
And today, Rolling Stonepublished a very long bombshell report detailing some very disturbing (alleged) turmoil, which one source called “a sh*tshow.” Across interviews with 13 unnamed members of The Idol‘s cast and crew, reporter Cheyenne Roundtree learned that The Weeknd “felt the show was heading too much into a ‘female perspective.’” When Levinson replaced Seimetz as director, he allegedly threw out “the nearly-finished $54-75 million project to rewrite and reshoot the entire thing.”
Roundtree added, “With Seimetz out of the picture, HBO handed the reins to Levinson, only to have him weaken the show’s overarching message, many sources say, by dialing up the disturbing sexual content and nudity to match — and even surpass — that of his most successful show, Euphoria.”
The publication additionally provided an update on when any of us might be able to watch The Idol: “One source with knowledge of the production schedule tells Rolling Stone the network initially hoped for The Idol to premiere last fall, taking over the Sunday time slot left open by House of the Dragon, which ended in October. Yet three teaser trailers have come and gone, and HBO can still only offer a vague ‘later this year.’ (A rep for the network declined to comment on when the show will air.)”
After all of that, the plot of The Idol feels like a footnote, but The Weeknd stars as Tedros, “a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult” who “enters a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol, Lily-Rose Depp’s Jocelyn (as noted by IMDb). Dan Levy, Suzanna Son, Troye Sivan, Moses Sumney, Jennie Kim, and Jane Adams are among those also listed in the cast.
