Everything We Know About HBO's Highly Anticipated Drama ‘The Idol’ (So Far)

From the same creator as Euphoria, this show is being heralded “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood”.

With the self-billed tagline of “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood”, it’s hardly a surprise that HBO’s upcoming drama show The Idol has the internet abuzz.

Co-created by Euphoria’s Sam Levinson, musician Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye and former LA nightlife entrepreneur Reza Fahim, the six-episode series dropped its first trailer in July 2022 and promptly drew attention for its raunchy themes, gripping visuals and captivating cast.

Curious? Keep reading for everything there is to know about The Idol, from the plot to the premiere date, and everything in between.

What is the plot of The Idol TV Show?

Per HBO’s press release, The Idol is a risqué tale “set against the backdrop of the music industry” that “centres on a self-help guru and leader of a modern cult, who develops a complicated relationship with an up-and-coming pop idol.”

In a statement, HBO vice president of programming Francesca Orsi described the series as a show “unlike anything HBO had ever done before”, crediting the series’ trio of creators for its daring approach to depicting the music industry’s darker side on screen.

“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,” she said.

Who is in the cast of HBO’s The Idol?

Much like 2022’s Elvis biopic, The Idol boasts a noteworthy lineup of Hollywood up-and-comers, with a number of the show’s cast members having found fame in the music industry prior to the series.

Leading the charge, Lily-Rose Depp (The King) plays the emerging pop star Jocelyn, who falls for a charming cult leader played by show co-creator and award-winning singer Abel Tesfaye, better known by his stage name, The Weeknd.

Other cast members starring alongside Depp and Tesfaye include Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan, South Korean pop star Jennie Kim of BLACKPINK fame, Hari Nef (Transparent), Rachel Sennot (Shiva Baby), Nico Hiraga (Booksmart), and Anne Heche (Six Days Seven Nights).

Is there a trailer for The Idol?

There is a trailer for The Idol, and it packs a visual punch, echoing the edgy aesthetic we’ve come to associate with Euphoria. Commencing by referring to the show as stemming from the “sick and twisted minds” of Levinson and Tesfaye, the 90-second preview presents a gritty montage of sex, drugs and guns accompanied by a thumping bassline, teasing the show’s highly provocative themes without giving away the plot.

What is the release date for The Idol?

No release date has been confirmed as yet, but as The Idol began filming late in Los Angeles in January 2022, it seems possible that a late 2022 or early 2023 premiere could be on the cards. Stay tuned!