Euphoria creator Sam Levinson’s new HBO drama series Idol is at the center of a controversy. It was called pornographic and shocking.
HBO’s new series, Idol, which is just getting ready to air, is already at the center of a controversy. It stars Lily-Rose Depp and singer The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, and is being produced by Sam Levinson, the in-demand director of the hit Euphoria. However, it turned out that initially “Idol” was going to be filmed according to a completely different scenario, and what happened was already called “wild”, “torture porn” and a work that “derailed”. Thirteen sources have already reported this to Rolling Stone.
In the story, Lily-Rose Depp plays a young pop star Jocelyn, who meets Tedros, the owner of a nightclub, and, as it turns out later, the head of a strange sect, somewhat reminiscent of the Church of Scientology.
The latest teaser of the HBO series “Idol”
[+–]
The series also starred Jennie from Blackpink, Troye Sivan, Eli Roth and many others. The series was produced by in-demand director Sam Levinson, so the series was called “a darker version” of his “Euphoria”. Although Idol began filming back in November 2021, it’s still unclear when it will release. There are only three teasers on the web.
Now production sources say the series hasn’t even been fully edited yet because the production has suffered from delays, reshoots and rewrites.
The first public hints of trouble came in April last year, when director Amy Seimetz, who worked on Girlfriends and She Dies Tomorrow, abruptly quit after finishing Idol about 80 percent.
HBO reacted to the news by confirming that “Idol” will be undergoing a major creative overhaul and will be making adjustments to the cast and crew. It was also reported at the time that Tesfaye, who is one of the creators, felt that the show was too much geared towards a “women’s point of view”.
From interviews with 13 of the show’s cast and crew, Rolling Stone learned that the drastic delay was due to Levinson taking over as director and abandoning a $54-75 million near-finished project to rewrite and reshoot the entirety.
HBO handed over the reins to Levinson, only for him to dilute the show’s overarching message by adding disturbing sexual content and nudity to match—and even surpass—its most successful show Euphoria, many sources say.
“I signed up for a dark satire of fame. The tests we subject our stars to, the forces that put people in the spotlight, and how this can be manipulated. But from satire it turned into a mockery,” said one of the sources.
Four sources say Levinson ultimately abandoned Seimetz’s approach to the story, making it less about a troubled starlet who falls prey to an industry predator and fights to get her own agency back, and more about a humiliating love story with an offensive message.
“It’s become like the rape fantasy of every toxic man on this show – and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better,” the insider explains.
Levinson and Tesfaye did not respond to requests for comment, however, after the article was published, The Weeknd posted an excerpt from The Idol, writing: “Rolling Stone, did we upset you?”.
Lily-Rose Depp, in turn, called Levinson “the best director” with whom she has ever worked, saying that she has never “felt more supported or respected in the creative space”, and also noting that her “contribution and opinion “Never appreciated more.
HBO called “Idol” one of the network’s “most exciting and provocative original programs” in a statement to Rolling Stone, adding that “the creative team is committed to creating a safe and mutually respectful work environment.” And noting that the team made creative changes last year that they felt were in the best interests of both the production and the cast and crew.
Teaser of the HBO series “Idol”
[+–]
The plot of “Idol” came up with The Weeknd, his producing partner Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson. All three are credited as screenwriters, along with writer Joe Epstein and Mary Lowes. Seimetz, whose indie psychological thriller style seemed appropriate for the show’s dark and sinister themes, was announced as the second redisser.
But Tesfaye and others argue that Seimetz was set to fail from the start. When she arrived on set seven weeks before the show began filming, she was given half-finished scripts, her first showrunner in Epstein, a tight schedule and near-impossible expectations from HBO, the sources say.
“Amy tried her best in a hopeless situation, but she was going to lose, no matter what. Honestly, I think HBO handed her a pile of shit,” one of the producers said, while the director herself declined to comment.
Two sources familiar with the show’s budget say HBO wanted to save money. So six episodes cost 54 million. For comparison, the third season of “Euphoria” cost 110 million.
Deadlines were also tight, production sources say. Filming began in late 2021 and broke off the following April. Seimetz had a hard time because she was cast in the DC series Sweet Tooth on Netflix. Another director was expected to take over the finale, with Seimetz handling post-production in New Zealand. Tesfaye was also pressed for time, preparing to embark on a world tour in early July.
And Sam Levinson was filming the second season of “Euphoria” and appeared on the set of “Idol” only a few weeks later. And he had a completely different vision of the series.
Many of those who worked on the first draft of the show describe it as having many layers of storytelling, and that was the reason why they agreed to film it.
But in the end, the script was rewritten 20 times. And many decisions were taken unexpectedly. For example, the series was being edited, but the scene had not yet been written.
But after Seimetz left, Tesfaye, who was unhappy that the story was too focused on Depp’s character, forced the script to be rewritten again. “It seemed like The Weeknd wanted to create a show dedicated to him – Sam agreed with that,” explains another source.
As a result, after the break, many actors were removed and new ones were added, such as K-pop superstar Jennie from Blackpink. However, insiders say that she has no text, and her task is only to look beautiful.
There were also plans to film some hardcore BDSM scenes, but they were scrapped because sources say they contained too much shocking violence.
Lily-Rose Depp in Idol
[+–]
Photo: Screenshot
But it is still unclear what kind of “Idol” will turn out in the end. Because the final is still not filmed, and many scenes continue to be re-shot. But insiders have already stated that they will no longer work with Sam Levinson. Because the chaos that was happening on the set was too tiring. Some managed to sleep only two hours a day, or even had to do without sleep.
“I will never work for Levinson again. And I don’t think I will watch Euphoria after I worked for him and found out how he feels about his team,” summed up one of the sources.
We will remind, earlier Britney Spears said that she would join the filming of the series “Idol”, but it is unclear whether this actually happened.
