The divisive show featuring Sam Levinson and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye won’t be coming back. HBO confirmed the end of The Idol, a series starring Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp, as it won’t be returning for a second season.
In this article, we’ve got you covered with all the essential details about the conclusion of ‘The Idol’ after its single season at HBO, right here on Bigflix.
‘The Idol’ Won’t Return for Second Season Despite Strong Engagement
HBO’s daring series, The Idol, garnered strong viewer engagement, but won’t be returning for a second season, as confirmed by an HBO spokesperson. Despite its provocative nature and audience response, the creators, cast, and crew decided against continuing.
The decision, which was uncertain until recently, resulted from discussions about a potential multi-season storyline. The show, consisting of five episodes, will not continue despite available options.
“I know this was never scheduled to be a limited series,” said co-star Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who joined as part of a creative revamp led by Levinson, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter after the finale aired.
Regarding the finale, THR critic Lovia Gyarkye remarked that it “felt like the conclusion to an altogether different show.” Gyarkye also observed, “There’s an unintentional aimlessness to the series, which contradicts its projected confidence.”
Twists and Turns in the Making of HBO’s ‘The Idol’
The creation of ‘The Idol,’ helmed by Levinson, Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim, was marked by a tumultuous journey to HBO. In April 2022, during production, the series underwent significant transformations, leading to director and executive producer Amy Seimetz departing, along with several cast members.
This prompted extensive reshoots, ultimately resulting in Levinson directing the entire season and being credited with writing all five episodes.
Before its premiere in June, issues surrounding ‘The Idol’ production were detailed in a Rolling Stone article in March, including last-minute rewrites and concerns about the portrayal of the characters’ toxic relationship. While HBO and the show’s team disputed these claims, Abel Tesfaye deemed the reports “ridiculous.”
Following a Cannes Film Festival screening in May, ‘The Idol’ debuted on HBO on June 4, attracting 913,000 viewers across platforms for its first night. While initial viewership expanded to 3.6 million over the week, ratings for subsequent episodes’ premiere nights dipped.
HBO revealed the first episode reached 7 million viewers over 85 days since the series premiere, yet the total for the full five-episode run remains undisclosed.
HBO’s ‘The Idol,’ premiering significantly at Cannes, stands as a relatively uncommon single-season show for the network. It joins a list including ‘John From Cincinnati,’ ‘Luck,’ ‘Vinyl,’ ‘Here and Now,’ ‘Lovecraft Country,’ and ‘The Nevers.’
The show’s executive producers include Levinson, Tesfaye, and Fahim, alongside Joe Epstein, Kevin Turen, Aaron Gilbert for Bron, Ashley Levinson, Nick Hall, Sara E. White, and A24.
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