The Idol has been cancelled by HBO following a contentious first season.
Lily-Rose Depp portrays a driven pop idol who falls under his sway in the glitzy but widely panned series starring Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye as a mysterious cult leader and nightclub owner. The show will not be returning for a second season, according to PTI.
The Idol, which Sam Levinson of Euphoria’s directed, was dogged by controversy both during and after its release, receiving uniformly bad reviews. The show was criticized for its sexually explicit material and apparent glorification of unhealthy relationships. In May of this year, it had its first two screenings at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it was given a five-minute standing ovation. The HBO channel later broadcast it.
According to a spokesperson for HBO, “The Idol was one of HBO‘s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response,” “HBO, the writers, the producers, and we have decided not to go forward with a second season after much thought and consideration. We appreciate the writers, actors, and crew for their incredible work.”
Although there was no predetermined plot for a multi-season story, the same report citing sources stated that “there were options to continue the show following the end of the five-episode (first) season.”
However, the program has since been cancelled and won’t be back for a second season.
In India, JioCinema is currently streaming The Idol.
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