The Weeknd to star in new HBO series ‘The Idol’

The year of The Weeknd continues. The Canadian performer, whose given name is Abel Tesfaye, is officially in the HBO business with a new series that he is developing with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and executive producer Reza Fahim.

Right now The Idol is only at the development stage, but Tesfaye is on board to executive produce, co-write, and star in the project should it go to series. Joseph Epstein will be the main writer/producer/showrunner.

The Idol revolves around a female pop singer who starts a romance with an enigmatic L.A. club owner who also happens to be the leader of a secret cult. Variety, which first reported the news, didn’t say which role The Weeknd might play, but given his club-inspired performance in the “Save Your Tears” video, a club owner with a mysterious past may be right up his alley.

So far there’s no casting for the female pop singer or hints as to who the producers might have in mind to play such a role.

Tesfaye has been in the headlines a lot over the past several months following the release of his chart-topping album After Hours, which currently has more than seven billion audio and video streams worldwide. He also performed at the halftime show at the Super Bowl last February and took home three major trophies at the 2020 American Music Awards.

So when the Grammys failed to even nominate The Weeknd’s music at this year’s show, he called out voters on corruption. Before long other notable musicians—including Elton John and fellow Canadian Drake—followed suit. Tesfaye has since declared he is permanently boycotting the awards show.

Sounds like he has a blossoming acting career to focus on anyhow. His gig with The Idol comes after The Weeknd starred alongside Adam Sandler in the buzzworthy, 2019 dark film Uncut Gems from the Safdie brothers, plus he also co-wrote and starred in a 2020 episode of the animated series American Dad.

Tesfaye is in good company with Levinson, who has been climbing the entertainment ranks as a writer over the past couple of years. In addition to showrunning Euphoria (for which series star Zendaya won an Emmy award), he also wrote and directed the controversial quarantine film Malcolm & Marie, starring Zendaya and John David Washington.

Levinson’s next project, Deep Water, hits theatres next year. He wrote the script, which revolves around a man who allows his wife to have affairs in order to save their marriage, but when her lovers disappear he becomes a prime suspect. Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas star.

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