“The Idol” with Lily-Rose Depp: Official trailer for the scandalous series released

Euphoria producer Sam Levinson’s new HBO series The Idol premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Now the official trailer of the Sky exclusive production has been released, giving a first impression of what viewers can expect from the series: plenty of drama, sectarianism, parties and sex games.

Cults, sex games and power struggles

“The Idol” is about young artist Joceyln, played by Lily-Rose Depp, who tries to find her way back into the music industry after a failed tour. Along the way, she meets nightclub owner Tedros, played by The Weeknd, who, as the leader of a dangerous cult, draws her under his spell and manipulates her. Joceyln quickly finds himself in a toxic relationship riddled with intrigue, sex games and power struggles. The musician does not notice how she is being manipulated. Her only goal is to use Tedros to find her way back to the top of the music world.

In addition to Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd, the cast includes a host of other celebrities, including Youth singer Troye Sivan, Schitts Creek actor Dan Levy and You actress Hari Nef.

“From the Sick and Twisted Minds of Sam Levinson and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye”

HBO itself has for the past few years touted the series as a product of the “sick and twisted minds of Sam Levinson and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye,” hinting at the direction the new series might be taking. And this is exactly what the new trailer confirmed: it’s all about parties, drugs and sex. Lily-Rose Depp follows as a desperate, impressionable young woman who naively gets involved with a guy hoping he will guide her on her way to the American Dream. In return, Depp has to be touchy, intimate and sexy. One user commented on the footage: “All I see is screaming, staring, dancing and drinking… who’s going to be acting here?”

It was clear shortly after filming that “The Idol” could become the scandal series of the year – but at the latest since it became known that Levinson, who had already been criticized for his work on the set of the series “Euphoria”, suddenly took over directing “The Idol” took over after he fired the actual director, “The Girlfriend Experience” producer Amy Seimetz, near the end of the finished production.

Plenty of criticism and bad words

The Rolling Stones magazine also published an article in March this year in which it wrote that “The Idol” was an “excruciating, pornographic” adaptation of the award-winning scandal series “Euphoria”. The series – after Levinson took over the helm – developed into a “wild, disgusting shit show”.

A disastrous script and constant delays are said to have led to the fact that the 54 to 75 million US dollar project became more and more degenerate financially and time-wise. In addition, 13 members of the production team criticized Levinson’s behavior on the set of the “Rolling Stones”. The director is said to be imperious and domineering, causing delays and uncertainties with drastic changes and causing a great deal of confusion overall.

Perverted “torture porn”

The sex scenes in particular are said to be controversial, with a team member saying: “It was like a toxic man’s rape fantasy, but the woman comes back to them to climb the music industry ladder.” The industry magazine concluded by describing the HBO production as “much too expensive chaos”.

And now the new trailer is also dividing opinions on the internet. Critics complain that the series, which was once intended as a feminist project, has developed into a perverse “torture porn” that seems rather embarrassing despite its star cast. Seems like the show has the potential to be HBO’s worst show. In any case, viewers can form their own opinion from the beginning of June.

“The Idol” is out 04 June available in the stream on Sky and WOW.

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