The Weeknd is reportedly reworking The Idol to focus more on his character. The upcoming HBO show is created by Abel Tesfaye (better known as his stage name The Weeknd), HBO's Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, and Reza Fahim, The Weeknd's longtime creative producer. Set against the backdrop of the music industry, The Idol centers on a self-help guru and a modern-day cult leader (Tesfaye) who lures a rising pop idol (Lily-Rose Depp) into a complicated relationship.

Led by The Weeknd and Depp, The Idol's main cast also includes Debby Ryan, Steve Zissis, and Troye Sivan alongside Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Elizabeth Berkley in supporting roles. The show recently underwent a creative overhaul as director Amy Seimetz exited the series and Levinson stepped up to the role. Suzanna Son, a breakout star of Sean Baker's new film Red Rocket, also exited the series and was soon replaced by Debby Ryan, who is playing a cult member. In addition to losing cast members, The Idol appears to be reworking its story as well.

Related: Why Daniel Craig's "Ladies & Gentlemen, The Weeknd" Meme Is So Popular

Now, more details about The Idol's creative overhaul are beginning to emerge. Deadline reports that The Weeknd was unhappy with the creative direction of the show, which he felt was "leaning too much into a female perspective” (presumably, focusing on Depp's character rather than his own). The actress will remain on board as a key cast member following the creative changes.

the weeknd in blinding lights

The Idol had reportedly already filmed four or five episodes out of seven, though it's unclear if that total will have to be trimmed following these creative changes, which will result in significant reshoots. The Weeknd, who played the Super Bowl halftime show in 2021 year and is fresh off headlining Coachella this year, clearly has a lot of creative control on the series, which he is not afraid to exercise. Other than creating and staring in The Idol, The Weeknd is billed as an executive producer, though the series is primarily written by showrunner Joseph Epstein.

The Weeknd has some past acting experience, as he was hilariously punched by Adam Sandler's character during a scene in Uncut Gems. However, his writing experience is even more limited, as his credits only include a single episode of American Dad. Reworking The Idol to focus more on the male perspective is an especially curious decision considering that Depp's pop star appears to be the show's titular character. Hopefully, more details regarding The Idol's creative overhaul emerge soon.

Next: HBO Max: Every Movie & TV Show Coming In May 2022

Source: Deadline