Why 'The Idol' Starring Lily-Rose Depp Is So Controversial

Everything to know about the headline-making show, which was created by pop megastar The Weeknd.

What do you get when you cross Britney Spears, Euphoria, and a NXIVM-style cult? If the rumors and the hype are to be believed, then the result is The Idol, a new HBO show developed by Abel Tesfaye, otherwise known as pop megastar The Weeknd. Co-created with Tesfaye’s producing partner Reza Fahim and Euphoria boss Sam Levinson, The Idol tells the story of a pop icon named Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) whose career is spiraling after a nervous breakdown forced her to cancel her tour. While trying to rebuild her reputation, she turns to Tedros (Tesfaye), a mysterious L.A. nightclub owner who also secretly runs a cult.

Or maybe not. A March 2023 Rolling Stone article reported that the show has undergone so many rewrites and reshoots that the crew is no longer sure what made the final cut and what didn’t. “There was always this sense of chaos because [we] never had a plan on what was going to happen today, or tomorrow, or the next scene,” one crew member told the magazine. Another member of the production added: “What I signed up for was a dark satire of fame and the fame model in the 21st century. … It went from satire to the thing it was satirizing.”

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No matter what, The Idol is sure to become one of the most discussed shows of the year. Read on for more information on the release date, cast and more.

What is The Idol about?

The Idol follows a pop star named Jocelyn who is attempting to get her career back on track after suffering a nervous breakdown that caused her to cancel her most recent tour. She turns to Tedros, a nightclub impresario and cult leader, for support, but their involvement threatens to further derail her already fragile reputation in the music industry.

Is there a trailer for The Idol?

HBO has released a handful of short teasers for the show, but a full trailer debuted in April 2023. “You have the best job in the world,” Tedros tells Jocelyn at one point. “You should be having way more fun.”

Who is cast in The Idol?

The Idol is led by Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn and Abel Tesfaye as Tedros, but the show also features a ton of other actors and real-life musicians. The cast includes:

Lily-Rose Depp (Jocelyn)

Lily-Rose Depp leads the show as Jocelyn, a troubled pop star working on herself after canceling her tour. A well known model and Chanel brand ambassador, Depp has appeared in Yoga Hosers, Silent Night, Voyagers and The King. She is the daughter of Johnny Depp and his ex-partner Vanessa Paradis.

Abel Tesfaye (Tedros)

Abel Tesfaye, who performs as The Weeknd, plays Tedros, a Los Angeles nightclub owner who also happens to be a cult leader. Tesfaye made his acting debut playing himself in 2019’s Uncut Gems, but The Idol marks his first major role.

Troye Sivan (Caleb)

Real-life pop star Troye Sivan appears as a character named Caleb. He has previously acted in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the Spud trilogy.

Jennie Ruby Jane (Angel)

Jennie Ruby Jane is the stage name of Jennie Kim, who is one of the members of K-pop girl group Blackpink. Kim will make her acting debut in The Idol as Jocelyn’s friend Angel.

Suzanna Son (Chloe)

Suzanna Son will appear in The Idol as Chloe. A former adult film actress, Son was last seen as Strawberry in 2021’s Red Rocket.

Dan Levy

Dan Levy plays a character who seems to be Jocelyn’s manager. Levy is best known for co-creating and starring in Schitt’s Creek, which ran from 2015 to 2020. He has also appeared in Sex Education, Happiest Season and Coastal Elites. Since 2022, he’s been the host of HBO’s cooking show The Big Brunch.

The cast of The Idol also includes Jane Adams, Hari Nef, Rachel Sennott, Karl Glusman, Hank Azaria, Eli Roth, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, musicians Moses Sumney and Ramsey, and hip-hop producer Mike Dean. Previously announced cast members who may not appear in the final version include Anne Heche, Elizabeth Berkley, Nico Hiraga, TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, and the All-American Rejects’ Tyson Ritter.

Why is The Idol so controversial?

The Idol has been plagued by production problems nearly since it was ordered to series in November 2021. Amy Seimetz, known for helming She Dies Tomorrow and Starz’s The Girlfriend Experience, was initially hired to direct The Idol, but she left the project in April 2022. According to Rolling Stone, 80 percent of the show had already been shot at that point.

When Sam Levinson came in to replace her, he reportedly began a ton of reshoots that brought in new characters and completely altered the tone of the show. Actors who were part of the show’s first iteration—including the late Anne Heche—were not brought back for the reshoots, meaning that some of the announced cast members may not appear in the final product.

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Production sources also alleged that these changes redirected the focus of the show from Jocelyn to Tedros and introduced a more problematic dynamic to their relationship. “It was like, ‘What is this? What am I reading here?’” one source told Rolling Stone. “It was like sexual torture porn.” Another crew member claimed: “It was a show about a woman who was finding herself sexually, turned into a show about a man who gets to abuse this woman and she loves it.”

In response to Rolling Stone’s report, HBO called the show one of the network’s “most exciting and provocative original programs,” adding, “The creative team has been committed to creating a safe, collaborative, and mutually respectful working environment, and last year, the team made creative changes they felt were in the best interest of both the production and the cast and crew.”

Depp, meanwhile, called Levinson “the best director” she’s ever worked with and said she’s never “felt more supported or respected in a creative space, my input and opinions more valued.”

Tesfaye didn’t directly address any of the claims in the article, instead tweeting a clip from the show where his character describes Rolling Stone as “a little irrelevant.”

What is the release date for The Idol?

After The Idol premieres at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, the first episode will air on HBO and stream live on Max Sunday, June 4, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET. Remaining episodes will air and stream on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

How many episodes are in The Idol?

The Idol reportedly consists of six episodes that are each about an hour long.

How to watch The Idol

The first episode of The Idol will be available for HBO and Max subscribers at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 4, 2023. Remaining episodes will premiere in that time slot for the next five Sundays.

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