These New Photos of the Original 'The Idol' Set Show What Could've Been
Courtesy of former director, Amy Seimetz.
Before The Idol was taken over by Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson, director Amy Seimetz had a uniquely female vision for the series, one that reportedly featured a much bigger Jocelyn backstory — something that the show has since been criticised for not including.
Many of us suspected that Seimetz’s version (which was rumored to be 80% complete when she was let go from the show, according to Deadline) would be more representative of a woman’s experience and likely feature less of what’s been described as “torture porn,” but we couldn’t be sure — that is, until now. Since the show ended last week, new photos of its original set have surfaced on social media, giving us a glimpse into Seimetz’s creative process.
The images showcase a young Jocelyn with big dreams of becoming a global icon, in her seemingly teenage bedroom surrounded by posters and her childhood friends. As a result, it was said that the original version of the series was meant to include a portion that referenced Jocelyn’s past as a child star, something which was scrapped entirely.
Levinson took over from Seimetz in April last year, around the time that the “new direction” for the show was announced. HBO stated that the series would be going in a “new creative direction,” and that changes would be made amongst “cast and crew accordingly to best serve this new approach.” Deadline also alleged that The Weeknd did not approve of the show’s “female perspective” and as a result, changes were made.
It’s clear to see what kind of effects those changes had on the show, with many users calling to HBO to request “Amy’s version.” Since initial tweets of the set imagery were shared, many have been removed due to copyright claims.
Stay tuned for more details and while you’re here, check out our interview with Natasha Newman-Thomas, costume designer for The Idol.
While you’re here, ever wondered what sneakers would the characters wear?
#TheIdol staff shared what appears to be scrapped set of the original version of the show, directed by Amy Seimetz, referencing Lily-Rose Depp’s character, Jocelyn’s, past as a child star. pic.twitter.com/V8HkqinkH7
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) July 4, 2023
