Everything we know about The Weeknd’s new TV series ‘The Idol’

Everybody’s working for The Weeknd. . . we'll see ourselves out. But seriously, though, details of The Weeknd’s new greenlit HBO limited series have just dropped, and the cast is a who’s-who of talent. We’re talking Lily-Rose Depp, Troye Sivan, Anne Heche, and Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, just to name a few.

The six-episode series, called The Idol, will focus on a rising pop star who develops a complicated relationship with a self-help guru and cult leader. Scarborough’s own The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) will not only star, but also serve as co-writer and executive producer. What do we call a guy like that in the industry? A quintuple threat? 

The limited series, with no announced release date as of yet, will also be co-written and executive produced by Reza Fahim and Euphoria’s Sam Levinson. Amy Seimetz will direct all six episodes, and Joseph Epstein (Health and Wellness) will serve as showrunner and writer. 

The remainder of the announced cast includes Red Rocket rising star Suzanna Son, Steve Zissis (Togetherness), Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe (of Brooklyn band TV on the Radio), and Nico Hiraga. The show is set to be filmed in and around Los Angeles.

In a statement to Variety, Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming, said “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. Shortly after, the brilliant duo of Joe Epstein and Amy Seimetz joined forces with the rest of the team, and this dream became a reality.”

Abel teased the news on his Twitter and Instagram Monday night just to stir the pot. 

I’m listening…..

— ✿ taylor ✿ (@taymart2) November 23, 2021

But some are also a bit miffed that we might get this show before we even get his new album The Dawn, which he’s already announced.

But wait a minute, what if The Dawn and The Idol come hand in hand, as one fan pointed out?

Abel, you creative GENIUS!

BEFORE YOU GO: Mariah Carey has real reindeer at her house Christmas morning because of course

[video_embed id='2326678']BEFORE YOU GO: Mariah Carey has real reindeer at her house Christmas morning because of course [/video_embed]