HBO Picks Up The Weeknd’s Drama ‘The Idol’ For Full Series, Adds 8 To Cast
The Weeknd‘s music industry drama The Idol has officially been given the green light by HBO for a full series order.
The story follows a female pop singer who starts a romance with an enigmatic club owner who also leads a secret cult. The six-episode series was co-created by The Weeknd with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and nightlife entrepreneur Reza Fahim. Amy Seimetz (Atlanta) will direct all six episodes.
In addition to the previously announced Lily Rose-Depp, eight new actors have now been added to the cast, including Suzanna Son (Red Rocket), Melanie Liburd (Power Book II: Ghost), Steve Zissis (Togetherness), Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Showgirls), Nico Hiraga (Moxie), Anne Heche (The Brave), TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe (Spider-Man: Homecoming), and singer-songwriter Troye Sivan (Boy Erased).
Son, Zissis, and Sivan are set to appear in series regular roles alongside The Weeknd and Rose-Depp, while the other five are recurring. The Idol marks the television acting debut for the “Blinding Lights” hitmaker, though he did previously play a version of himself opposite Adam Sandler in the critically acclaimed film Uncut Gems.
“When the multi-talented Abel’ The Weeknd’ Tesfaye, Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson brought us The Idol, it was clear their subversive, revelatory take on the cult of the music industry was unlike anything HBO had ever done before,” said Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming (via Variety). “Shortly after, the brilliant duo of Joe Epstein and Amy Seimetz joined forces with the rest of the team, and this dream became a reality.”
The Weeknd serves as co-writer and executive producer along with Fahim and Levinson, while Epstein is on board as co-writer, exec producer, and showrunner. Seimetz will also exec produce in addition to directing.
The Idol, TBA, HBO
