The Idol (TV series)
The Idol is an upcoming American drama television series created by Abel Tesfaye, Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson for HBO. Set against the backdrop of the music industry, the series will be focusing on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult who enters a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol. Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp are set to star in the leading roles, with Steve Zissis, Troye Sivan, and Juliebeth Gonzalez appearing as supporting characters. Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Elizabeth Berkley, Nico Hiraga, Anne Heche, Maya Eshet, Tyson Ritter, Kate Lyn  Sheil, Liz Caribel Sierra, and Finley Rose Slater will appear in recurring roles. Premise. A self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult (Abel Tesfaye) enters a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol (Lily-Rose Depp). Production. Development. On June 29, 2021, Abel Tesfaye announced that he would be creating, executive producing and co-writing a drama series for HBO alongside Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson. On the same day, Ashley Levinson and Joseph Epstein were announced as executive producers for the series, with Epstein also serving as a writer and the series' showrunner. Mary Laws was  also announced as a writer and will serve as the co-executive producer, alongside Tesfaye's co-manager Wassim Slaiby and his creative director La Mar Taylor. On November 22, 2021, HBO gave the production a series order for the first season consisting of six episodes. Alongside the series order, Amy Seimetz revealed that she will direct all six episodes. On January 14, 2022, "Deadline Hollywood" reported that Nick Hall joined the production as an executive producer, following his move to A24 to oversee creative for the company's television slate. On April 26, 2022, it was announced that Seimetz  had left the project. Casting. Alongside its initial announcement, Tesfaye revealed that he would be starring in the series. On September 29, 2021, Lily-Rose Depp revealed that she will be starring opposite of Tesfaye. On November 22, Suzanna Son, Steve Zissis, and Troye Sivan joined the main cast, while Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Elizabeth Berkley, Nico Hiraga and Anne Heche joined the cast as recurring characters. On December 2, Juliebeth Gonzalez was cast as series regular, while Maya Eshet, Tyson Ritter, Kate Lyn Sheil, Liz Caribel Sierra and Finley Rose Slater were cast in recurring roles. On April 27 , 2022, it was announced that Son would leave the cast amid a creative overhaul of the series. Debby Ryan will be expected to replace Son. Filming. Principal photography began in November 2021 in and around Los Angeles, California. Production was temporarily paused in April 2022 due to Tesfaye co-headlining the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. On April 25, "Variety" reported that the show will be reworked and will undergo significant reshoots with changes to its cast and crew due to a change in creative directions.