- The Idol will premiere on June 4, 2023 on HBO.
- Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd star within the collection.
- The present was co-created by Euphoria’s Sam Levinson
- The present was screened on the Cannes Movie Pageant on Might 22.
HBO has been on a roll creating hit TV exhibits like The White Lotus, Home of the Dragon, and The Final Of Us, and the community hopes to maintain that pattern going with the upcoming drama collection The Idol. There’s definitely a variety of buzz round this present Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and The Weeknd (sure, the singer!) are the masterminds behind the Lily-Rose Depp-starring present, which can premiere on June 4. Sam, Lily-Rose, and The Weeknd had been all on the premiere for the present on the Cannes Movie Pageant on Might 22.
A new trailer was launched on April 17 that teased the chaos and drama to return. The present follows Lily-Rose’s Jocelyn, an aspiring pop star, falling in love with The Weeknd’s Tedros, a self-help guru/modern-day cult chief. Their relationship turns into extraordinarily difficult and poisonous as their skilled lives bleed into their private ones. There’s already been main controversy surrounding the present involving alleged behind-the-scenes drama, which the forged addressed at Cannes. HollywoodLife has rounded up all the things it’s essential learn about The Idol, together with the discharge date, the forged, and the behind-the-scenes drama.
The Idol Trailers
The first teaser trailer for The Idol was launched by The Weeknd in July 2022, as he kicked off his ‘After Hours Til Daybreak’ tour in New Jersey. The footage exhibits Jocelyn hanging up a romance with Tedros, which rapidly turns tense. Jocelyn tells Tedros that she doesn’t belief him.
The second teaser trailer was launched by The Weeknd in August 2022. It options different characters saying that they’re utilizing Jocelyn to “promote intercourse,” after she struts right into a file firm barely carrying garments.
The third teaser trailer dropped in October 2022, courtesy of HBO. It exhibits Tedro warning Jocelyn to “belief nobody” however him. Tedro blindfolds Jocelyn within the music studio and seduces her. The total trailer for The Idol has but to be launched.
A fourth teaser was launched on April 17. “You bought the most effective job on this planet. You need to be having far more enjoyable,” Tedros tells Jocelyn within the trailer. Jocelyn and Tedros start relationship and dealing collectively on her music. At one level, individuals begin believing that Tedros has brainwashed Jocelyn. “I promise you, there’s a brand new Jocelyn coming,” the tearful pop star says within the ultimate moments of the teaser.
The Idol Launch Date
HBO has introduced that The Idol will premiere on June 4. The present was anticipated to premiere in 2022 however acquired delayed to 2023. A Rolling Stone article printed in March 2023 revealed behind-the-scenes drama. On the time, manufacturing was “in the dead of night on when the present will make it to air, and have little concept about what the ultimate model will appear like.”
Allegedly, the present’s been delayed due to rewrites that happened as soon as Sam Levinson changed Amy Seimetz as director after she departed the six-episode present earlier than they filmed the ultimate episode. Per Rolling Stone‘s sources, the present was rewritten and reshot beneath Sam’s management, which has affected the present’s delayed launch.
The Idol Solid
Lily-Rose Depp stars as Jocelyn in The Idol. Lily-Rose, 23, is the daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis. Her previous appearing jobs embody the films The King, Voyagers, and Silent Evening. The Idol is Lily-Rose’s first tv present. Again in March 2022, Lily-Rose informed Wonderland that “the extra I be taught concerning the story and the character, the extra I’ve a particular feeling about this. The workforce round me are so nice and I’m in actually nice fingers. I’ve by no means accomplished a present earlier than and I’ve by no means held on to a personality for this lengthy earlier than so I’m prepared for that problem as nicely.”
Lily-Rose informed W Journal that she is aware of her character might be in comparison with Britney Spears. “In fact I’m a Britney fan!” she stated. “Who doesn’t love Britney? However I used to be additionally desirous about Beyoncé, Mariah, and each enormous pop star of our time. I wished Jocelyn to be the form of lady who can dominate a room, somebody who doesn’t ever shrink back from their sparkle.”
Creator Sam Levinson addressed the comparisons between Lily-Rose’s character and Britney on the Cannes Movie Pageant. “We’re not making an attempt to inform a narrative about any specific pop star,” he stated on the press convention. “It’s a variety of strain — to must consistently be on, and to be what everybody needs you to be. It’s a lonely life… We will all faux that everybody is looking for somebody’s greatest curiosity, however I feel fame actually corrupts; it’s very easy to encompass your self with myth-makers who proceed to prop us up.”
Is Lily Rose-Depp’s pop star in #TheIdol primarily based on Britney Spears? “We’re not telling anyone else’s story,” she says. https://t.co/HWTIBTfaam #Cannes pic.twitter.com/BE3DIy3AGQ
— Selection (@Selection) Might 23, 2023
The Weeknd, whose actual identify is Abel Tesfaye, performs Tedros in The Idol. He co-created the present with Sam Levinson and Reza Fahim and he’s additionally one of many government producers. That is The Weeknd’s official appearing debut. He’s identified for his theatrical music movies and appeared as himself within the 2019 Adam Sandler film Uncut Gems.
The Idol forged additionally consists of Jennie Kim, Suzanna Son, Troye Sivan, Jane Adams, Dan Levy, Eli Roth, Hank Azaria, Rachel Sennott, and Da’Vine Pleasure Randolph.
The Behind-The-Scenes Drama on The Idol
As we talked about earlier than, Rolling Stone launched intel on how manufacturing on The Idol modified as soon as Sam Levinson took management. Allegedly, Sam determined to “weaken the present’s overarching message,” by focusing extra on the sexual content material, moderately than the story of an up-and-coming pop star falling in love with a cult chief.
Sources claimed to Rolling Stone that director Amy Seimetz “appeared set as much as fail from the beginning” by HBO. Amy reportedly “was given half-finished scripts, a decent schedule, and near-impossible expectations from HBO” whereas she was engaged on the present, Rolling Stone reported. Additionally, HBO reportedly solely gave the present a $54 million funds, a lot lower than the $97 million it price to create the second season of Euphoria. The Rolling Stone report additionally claimed that The Weeknd and Sam had restricted availability to work on the present, as a result of they had been busy with touring and Euphoria, respectively.
After Sam changed Amy as director of the remainder of the collection in April 2022, a report from Deadline got here out that claimed The Weeknd was “sad” that the present targeted extra on Lily-Rose Depp with a “feminine perspective.” Relating to this case, a supply informed Rolling Stone, “It was just like the Weeknd wished one present that was all about him — Sam was on board with that.”
Following the discharge of Rolling Stone‘s report, The Weeknd took to Twitter on March 1 and jabbed on the allegations by sharing a scene from the present, wherein his character bashes the information outlet. He additionally cheekily requested, “Did we upset you?”
.@RollingStone did we upset you? pic.twitter.com/Uyx06lyRgx
— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) March 1, 2023
In a press release given to PEOPLE, HBO denied the accusations and shared how the community is worked up concerning the new present. “The creators and producers of The Idol have been working exhausting to create one in all HBO’s most enjoyable and provocative unique applications. The preliminary strategy on the present and manufacturing of the early episodes, sadly, didn’t meet HBO requirements so we selected to make a change. All through the method, the inventive workforce has been dedicated to making a protected, collaborative, and mutually respectful working surroundings, and final 12 months, the workforce made inventive adjustments they felt had been in the most effective curiosity of each the manufacturing and the forged and crew. We sit up for sharing The Idol with audiences quickly,” the assertion learn.
Lily-Rose additionally gave her personal assertion to PEOPLE and praised Sam Levinson, saying, “Sam is, for therefore many causes, the most effective director I’ve ever labored with. By no means have I felt extra supported or revered in a inventive area, my enter and opinions extra valued. Working with Sam is a real collaboration in each approach – it issues to him, greater than something, not solely what his actors take into consideration the work, however how we really feel performing it. He hires individuals whose work he esteems and has all the time created an surroundings wherein I felt seen, heard, and appreciated.”
The Weeknd addressed the alleged drama in a Might 2023 interview with W Journal. He confirmed that he modified the route of the present when Sam was engaged on Euphoria as a result of he felt that the connection between Tedros and Jocelyn wasn’t advanced sufficient. “Movie and TV is a brand new inventive muscle for me,” The Weeknd stated. “I don’t launch my music till I feel it’s nice. Why would this be any completely different?” The Weeknd additionally stated that “it was a problem” to redo the present. “In reality, I sacrificed my well being and residential to make it work. So, let’s say it comes out and it’s f****** horrible. I nonetheless know I did my very best,” he stated. “From what I’ve seen, the present is nice. All the pieces is a threat: Once you’ve accomplished the most effective you’ll be able to, I might name {that a} pleased ending.”
Sam informed W Journal that “quitting the present wasn’t an choice” for him or The Weeknd. “It was a dream that we had collectively, and we needed to see it by means of,” he defined. “If we had been going to reshoot from the start, I knew it needed to be for much less cash. Sitting in Abel’s home, wanting round on the 40,000 sq. ft, I stated, ‘It’s gorgeous right here—you’ll be able to’t purchase manufacturing design like this. What if we shoot it right here?’ Abel put down his drink and stated, ‘Do you have got insurance coverage?’ I stated sure. And he stated, ‘I’m okay with it.’”
In his Might 2023 Vainness Truthful cowl story, The Weeknd known as the Rolling Stone story “ridiculous.” He added, “I wished to present a ridiculous response to it.” The singer famous that he “actually liked” working with Amy. He additionally describes Lily-Rose because the present’s third creator alongside him and Sam. “I need to go away individuals the chance to be stunned,” Lily-Rose informed the outlet. “I feel it’s attention-grabbing that individuals have a lot to say concerning the present already and so they haven’t even seen it.”
Lily-Rose Depp says reviews about #TheIdol‘s poisonous set had been “false” and “imply.” Sam Levinson provides: “When my spouse learn me the article, I checked out her and stated, ‘I feel we’re about to have the largest present of the summer season.'”https://t.co/HX4nIyNfTV #Cannes pic.twitter.com/H3mf5wm7ZN
— Selection (@Selection) Might 23, 2023
The alleged behind-the-scenes drama got here up throughout the present’s press convention in Cannes. Lily-Rose pushed again towards the reviews, saying, “It’s all the time a bit of unhappy and disheartening to see imply, false issues stated about somebody you care about. It wasn’t reflective in any respect of my expertise.”
Sam stated, “When my spouse learn me the article. I checked out her and I stated, ‘I feel we’re about to have the largest present of the summer season.’ We all know we’re making a present that’s provocative. It’s not misplaced on us.” Talking concerning the allegations within the story, Sam stated, “It felt fully overseas to me. My solely slight grievance is that they deliberately omitted something that didn’t match their narrative. We’ve seen a variety of that just lately.”
HollywoodLife will proceed to share updates on The Idol proper right here.
