How The Weeknd and Sam Levinson Brought 'The Idol' to Life
The series is inspired by The Weeknd’s perception of fame.
While most people may know The Weeknd as a musician, his talents go beyond music. Most recently, The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is credited as co-creator and actor on The Idol.
Sam Levinson, who is the creator of Euphoria, co-created The Idol with The Weeknd and Reza Fahim. During a new interview with W magazine, Levinson elaborated on the process of how the show came to be.
“Abel came to us with a pitch. He said something that I’ll always remember: ‘If I wanted to start a cult, I could.’ What he meant is that his fans were so loyal and devoted that they would follow him anywhere. That was the germ of the idea for The Idol: what happens when a pop star falls for the wrong guy and no one speaks up.”
The Weeknd and Depp play Tedros and Jocelyn, who are each other’s love interests. For Levinson, a chemistry test was crucial for the actors. “We had met socially, but I didn’t know him,” Depp explained to the publication. “Abel is so warm and friendly, but I was very nervous about the chemistry read because I really wanted the part. Like all my favorite on-screen couples, Jocelyn and Tedros complemented each other in the most dangerous way. They had that push-and-pull connection.”
The Idol premieres on HBO on June 4.
