I’m sure everyone saw this coming, but now it’s official — HBO has canceled The Idol after one season, bringing an end to the controversial drama series starring Lily-Rose Depp and Abel Tesfaye.
“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,” said an HBO spokeswoman.
The Idol was a huge success upon release, with 3.6 million viewers tuning in for the first episode over its first week on Max. That’s more than the series premieres of The White Lotus and Euphoria, two other big HBO hits. It also generated its fair share of press thanks to its over-the-top content. It was never a given that The Idol would return for a second season, as show insiders have said that there were no plan for a multi-season arc.
“After a nervous breakdown derailed Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) last tour, she’s determined to claim her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America,” the official synopsis reads. “Her passions are reignited by Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye), a nightclub impresario with a sordid past. Will her romantic awakening take her to glorious new heights or the deepest and darkest depths of her soul?“
Amy Seimetz (The Killing) was originally slated to direct every episode of The Idol, but she stepped down in the midst of production. Multiple episodes had already been completed, but HBO announced that they would be reworked with changes to cast and crew. “The Idol’s creative team continues to build, refine, and evolve their vision for the show and they have aligned on a new creative direction,” HBO said in a statement to Variety last April. “The production will be adjusting its cast and crew accordingly to best serve this new approach to the series. We look forward to sharing more information soon.“
You can check out a review of the series from our own Alex Maidy right here. How do you feel about The Idol getting canceled?