Raunchy TV series with A-list stars axed after brutal reviews
CANCELLATION doubts first emerged as the controversial HBO show headed towards its finale in June, 2023.
After a string of harsh reviews, Deadline confirmed on Monday that The Idol will not be returning for a second season.
HBO and Sky Atlantic viewers were left gobsmacked by the five-part show after its finale aired in July, 2023.
Despite brutal reviews, cast members remained hopeful and mentioned the possibility of a second season for The Idol.
However, show insiders revealed that creators had not come up with a plan for a multi-season arc.
The Idol’s open-end finale will be the last viewers see of the program.
A spokeswoman for HBO shared the following statement: “The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response.”
“After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers, have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work.”
The controversial series from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd premiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival and starred both the singer alongside Lily-Rose Depp.
But since it was first dropped, the raunchy drama received a hefty backlash for its controversial and sexually explicit scenes.
It also caused as stir due to its extensive reshoots following the departure of director Amy Seimetz in April, 2022, which eventually saw it being reduced from its total number of instalments to five.
The series featured Lily-Rose Depp starring as Jocelyn, a pop star recovering from a nervous breakdown following her last tour who is determined to claim her status at the greatest celebrity in America.
The model turned actress faced Abel Tesfaye who played Tedros, a nightclub impresario with a troubled past.
Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, Jennie Ruby Jane, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Rachel Sennott, Ramsey, Suzanna Son and Hank Azaria also featured in the line-up.
Many viewers took to social media to put The Idol on blast with film journalist and broadcaster Leila Latif branding it “one of the worst programmes ever made” in a review for The Guardian.
Savaged by critics and TV fans alike, The Idol also received a shockingly low score of 19% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Since the show’s cancellation was made official, many viewers took to Twitter to voice their opinions one last time.
“Thinking about how Sam Levinson said the idol was about to be ‘the biggest show of the summer’ only for it to be cut short and cancelled after 1 season”, one of them quipped.
Another added: “The Idol was cancelled. Good because wtf was that? It’s so hard to watch. I got a few minutes into episode 3 and turned it off.”
A third viewer called for Sam Levinson to focus on one of his most successful projects.
“Now that The Idol is cancelled maybe Mr Samantha can focus on euphoria!”, they wrote.
The director recently teased what to expect from the third season of his hit TV show starring Zendaya.
A release date has yet to be confirmed.