Grammy-boycotting, meme-starring, hit-churning musician The Weeknd just added another potential accreditation to his name. Co-writing and executive producing his new HBO series The Idol, the singer is catching headlines for names on both cast and production team. If his lyrics (and cameo in Uncut Gems, hey) is anything to go bar, the hype is understandable.
The cast
The man himself, Abel Tesfaye, will star alongside actress Lily-Rose Depp and fellow multi-hyphenate Troye Sivan. Steve Zissis (Togetherness) and Suzanna Son (Red Rocket) join them as regulars, while Tunde Adebimpe (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Anne Heche (Six Days Seven Nights), Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Saved By The Bell), Melanie Liburd (This Is Us), and Nico Hiraga (Moxie) are onboard in recurring roles.
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The plot
What's equally attention-grabbing is the backing of Euphoria's Sam Levinson, and direction under Atlanta's Amy Seimetz, who is directing all six episodes of the series. Based on the music industry (surprise, surprise), the story follows a self-help guru/modern-day cult leader and the complex relationship with a rising pop idol. Tell us that doesn't sound dark already.
Since you're already here
And we're already plugging the artist, might as well enjoy his latest work. It's sleek but senseless violence, but we'd take this over 'All Too Well' any day. Cheers.
