Lily-Rose Depp opens up about the idolatry of stardom and working with Sam Levinson (Euphoria) and Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, for the upcoming HBO show The Idol. After an audition that was pretty standard for its time, the COVID-19 pandemic included a self-tape, Zoom, and a chemistry read with Tesfaye, who plays the male lead; Depp nabbed the role with genuine shock. This will be Depp's first television appearance.
In a feature with Elle magazine, Lily-Rose Depp talked about the double-edged sword of stardom, working with Sam Levinson and Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, and the daring nature of HBO's new show The Idol. When questioned on the show's sexual content, Depp added that she felt blessed to work with Levinson and Tesfaye, describing them as two people who make her incredibly safe and protected as she works on such a challenging, provocative show. Read what Depp had to say about the show below:
"I’m not interested in making anything puritanical. I’m not interested in making anything that doesn’t challenge me, or challenge other people, honestly . . . I think this show is fearless, and that’s something that I’ve been really excited and proud to dive into. I can’t wait for you guys to see it."
Everything We Know About HBO's New Show, The Idol
Along with nightlife expert Reza Fahim, the show is co-created by Tesfaye and Levinson. The latter's well known for his work on Euphoria. If the teasers and Levinson's previous work are anything to go by, The Idol's being groomed as Euphoria for adults, making it doubly risqué and most likely Levinson's most provocative work so far. The teaser trailers for The Idol feature the show's emerging popstar, Jocelyn, navigating the music industry and her complicated relationship with a Los Angeles club owner (Tesfaye). At the same time, she's smothered by her relationship with fame, sex, and drugs.
The Idol sports a star-studded cast as well. Joining Tesfaye and Depp will be BLACKPINK's Jennie Kim, Eli Roth, Dan Levy, Moses Sumney, Jane Adams, and Rachel Sennott, to name a few. Roles have been kept under wraps, but The Idol's second teaser shows a glimpse of most of its stars, with Kim recommending a club to Depp and Adams, revealing the primary hook of The Idol and, often, the pull of HBO in general.
Night vibes, sex, and drugs will be The Idol's selling point, superficially, as Tesfaye and Levinson will undoubtedly dive more deeply into the characters and relationships. Levinson's Euphoria is often mistaken as gratuitous and obsessed with the taboo when it's more of a cautionary tale. The Idol's roots seem no different, setting up Jocelyn for a high rise in the music industry, possibly before she falls.
Source: Elle Magazine