The Weeknd teams up with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson to co-write and star in cult series The Idol at HBO
The Weeknd has his sights set on the small screen, teaming up with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson for a new TV series at HBO.
The 31-year-old singer (real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) has come aboard to star in and co-write and star in a new series currently titled The Idol, according to Variety.
The singer will co-create the series alongside Levinson and Reza Fahim, who will all serve as executive producers.
TV bound: The Weeknd has his sights set on the small screen, teaming up with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson for a new TV series at HBO
Executive producer: The singer will co-create the series alongside Levinson (above) and Reza Fahim, who will all serve as executive producers
The show will follow a female pop singer who starts a romance with an ‘enigmatic L.A. club owner,’ who also leads a secret life as a cult leader.
Joseph Epstein will also serve as a writer and the showrunner for The Idol, though it’s unclear when casting or production will begin.
Mary Laws will write on the series and serve as a co-executive producer.
Cult leader: The show will follow a female pop singer who starts a romance with an ‘enigmatic L.A. club owner,’ who also leads a secret life as a cult leader
Levinson will executive produce through his Little Lamb production company along with Ashley Levinson and Kevin Turen.
Aaron L. GIlbert will executive produce via Bron Studios, while Wassim ‘SAL’ Slaiby and La Mar C. Taylor will co-executive produce.
The Weeknd acknowledged the news on his social media handles, tweeting out screengrabs of headlines in Variety and Deadline, simply captioned, ‘The Idol @HBO.’
Social: The Weeknd acknowledged the news on his social media handles, tweeting out screengrabs of headlines in Variety and Deadline, simply captioned, ‘The Idol @HBO’
Tesfaye has acted in the 2019 indie drama Uncut Gems, though he was playing himself, though he also has experience on the small screen as well.
He also co-wrote an episode of the hit TBS animated series American Dad, while also voicing himself.
He debuted a new song on that episode that he co-wrote with Asa Taccone, the brother of Lonely Island’s Jorma Taccone.
Actor: Tesfaye has acted in the 2019 indie drama Uncut Gems, though he was playing himself, though he also has experience on the small screen as well
Sam Levinson, the son of director Barry Levinson, is in the midst of filming Season 2 of Euphoria, though no release date was given.
He also co-wrote the upcoming movie Deep Water with Zach Helm (Stranger Than Fiction), starring former couple Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas.
Levinson also wrote and directed the pandemic-filmed drama Malcolm and Marie starring Zendaya and John David Washington.
Euphoria: Sam Levinson, the son of director Barry Levinson, is in the midst of filming Season 2 of Euphoria, though no release date was given
Coming soon: He also co-wrote the upcoming movie Deep Water with Zach Helm (Stranger Than Fiction), starring former couple Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas