HBO has officially ordered Sam Levinson, The Weeknd and Reza Fahim’s drama series, THE IDOL.
The upcoming six episodes is set to be filmed in and around Los Angeles and will be helmed by Atlanta director Amy Seimetz:
“THE IDOL, set against the backdrop of the music industry, centers on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult, who develops a complicated relationship with an up-and-coming pop idol.”
Joining the previously-announced cast of The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp are series regulars Suzanna Son, Steve Zissis and Troye Sivan, along with recurring cast members Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, Nico Hiraga and Anne Heche.
“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,” Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, of HBO Programming, said in a statement. “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 will also serve as executive producer/writer alongside Levinson, Fahim and Joe Epstein, while Seimetz, Kevin Turen, Ashley Levinson, Nick Hall, Sara E. White, A24 and BRON’s Aaron Gilbert will executive produce.
Stay tuned for an official trailer and release date.
Elsewhere in entertainment, Idris Elba is reportedly in talks to star in the next James Bond film.
