Abel Tesfaye, popularly known as singer The Weeknd, and French-American model Lily-Rose Depp will spice up everyone’s nights in the upcoming HBO drama The Idol. Co-created by Sam Levinson, who also helmed Euphoria, the series is making quite a buzz prior to its premiere.
Tesfaye will portray a wicked club owner who targets pop star Jocelyn (Depp) while keeping a cult-like reputation. This bizarre idea was inspired by the musician’s real-life avid fans.
The Weeknd’s Cult Following Inspired Concept Behind HBO’s The Idol
Speaking with W Magazine, showrunner Sam Levinson revealed how The Weeknd suggested the topic to him:
“Abel came to us with a pitch. He said something that I’ll always remember: ‘If I wanted to start a cult, I could.’ What he meant is that his fans were so loyal and devoted that they would follow him anywhere. That was the germ of the idea for ‘The Idol’: what happens when a pop star falls for the wrong guy and no one speaks up.”
The project went under several changes of cast, directors, and reshoots as both creators wanted to properly execute the show the way they envisioned it. Levinson even went to Coachella to watch The Weeknd perform on stage to observe how his fans react. This will give him an idea of how to bring a cult-like presence onto the screen. Tesfaye said:
“He stayed in the background, but he watched how I moved and what it was like for me. Sam understood something crucial about how to create this show.”
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old singer admitted he never wanted fame at the beginning of his career:
“I’ve always been the antihero. In the beginning of my career, I didn’t show myself at all. I didn’t want to be famous. For the first two years, no one knew what I looked like.”
He explained how the art of cinema helped him become a better songwriter. Tesfaye confessed that television is a new ground for him, and like music, he won’t release anything until it’s polished and perfect.
HBO Series Co-Creator Allegedly Delayed Filming To Add More Explicit Content
In a report from Rolling Stone, it was revealed that Levinson himself caused the delay of the production. Several crew members confessed that the director dialed up the nudity and sexual content of the show, revising the almost-finished script written by Amy Seimetz. One crew member said:
“What I signed up for was a dark satire of fame and the fame model in the 21st century. The things that we subject our talent and stars to, the forces that put people in the spotlight, and how that can be manipulated in the post-Trump world. It went from satire to the thing it was satirizing.”
The original script was allegedly about a troubled female starlet, victimized by a predatory industry figure, who reclaims her dignity in the end; however, Levinson scrapped the idea and changed it into a “rape fantasy,” according to one production member:
“It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show – and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better.”
The upcoming HBO series remains a hot topic on social media for its controversial themes. Meanwhile, the studio called the project one of the most “exciting and provocative original programs” they have ever produced.
The Idol premieres on HBO this June 4, 2023.
Source: W Magazine, Rolling Stone
