Trailer, Cast, Controversy & More From The Weeknd Show

Not content with turning the American high school experience into an opioid-driven high-octane fever dream EuphoriaWriter and Director Sam Levinson Now, he’s looking at sex, drugs and cults in Los Angeles in his new HBO project. Idol is a provocative series co-created by Levinson and Abel Tesfaye, better known as R&B star The Weeknd.

What is that about?

Idol Follows Jocelyn, an aspiring singer whose career falters after she is forced to cancel a tour due to a mental breakdown. When we meet her at the beginning of the show, she’s determined to fulfill her dream of becoming the world’s sexiest pop star. The task is complicated by her messy and toxic relationship with Tedros, a self-help guru who may or may not be the leader of a cult.

The cast also includes The Weeknd

Abel Tesfaye / The Weekend starring Idol as Tedros, and Jocelyn is played by Lily-Rose Depp. The cast also includes K-Pop singer Jennie Kim, horror guru Eli Roth, Dan Levy, Troye Sivan, Suzanna Son, Moses Sumney, Rachel Sennott, Hari Nef and Hank Azaria.

Recurring cast members include Elizabeth Berkley, Anne Heche, Melanie Liburd, Tonde Adbeimpe, Nico Hiraga, Maya Eschert, Tyson Ritter and Carl Glusman.

Trailer promises some real depravity

HBO has dropped three trailers for the show so far, and it’s been warmly received Idol As from “from the sick and twisted mind of the Creator Euphoria sam levinson and abel ‘The Weekend’ Tesfaye,” a recent episode focused on Jocelyn’s character and her quest for pop stardom.

behind the controversy Idol Season 1

rolling stone Recently published a report on some troubled issues Idol behind the scenes, including constant script rewrites, overruns, and poor working conditions for cast and crew, in addition to arguably exploitative content, get conclusion Idol has gone “crazily, sickeningly off track” and described the show as “torture porn”, in part by depicting a scene where Ted Ross beats up Jocelyn, who smiles and begs him to rape her because she thinks he And his abuse was key to her musical success.

HBO disputes the following claims Idol is a “rape fantasy”, Tesfaye via share from Idol His and Depp’s characters question the relevance of longtime magazine titles. “Did we piss you off?” he asked in an accompanying tweet.

Depp, who plays Jocelyn, defended Levinson against the exploitative allegations.

“Sam is the best director I’ve ever worked with for so many reasons,” she told type“In the creative field, I have never felt more supported or respected, and my input and opinions are more valued. Working with Sam has been a true collaboration in every way – which is what matters most to him, not just It’s how his actors perceive the work, but how we feel about executing it. He employs people whose work he respects and always creates an environment where I feel seen, heard and appreciated.”

when Idol freed?

The show has yet to set an official release date, though HBO has confirmed that it will air sometime in 2023.

Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and reporter from the UK covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared on GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV.