The Weeknd is set to star in and co-write a cult drama series for HBO named The Idol, Billboard can affirm.
Information on the series, which will follow a female pop singer who starts a romance with a enigmatic L.A. club owner who serves as a head of a secret cult, was first revealed by Variety on Tuesday.
The Weeknd (secret cult Abel Tesfaye) will co-write and executive produce The Idol close by his creative producer and renowned L.A. nightlife entrepreneur Reza Fahim and BAFTA Award-winning Euphoria maker Sam Levinson, every one of the three of whom are makers of the show. Joseph Epstein will serve as showrunner while joining Mary Laws in the group of co-writers and -executive producers.
The Grammy-winning superstar found himself in the writer’s room of the TBS animated comedy American Dad in May 2020, when he co-wrote an episode titled “A Starboy Is Born” alongside American Dad and Robot Chicken writer Joel Hurwitz. The May 4-dated episode likewise featured a new spoof song, “I’m a Virgin,” which The Weeknd co-wrote with Electric Guest’s Asa Taccone.
The “Blinding Lights” artist recently featured in the Safdie Brothers’ widely praised 2019 film Uncut Gems.
Levinson — whose series Euphoria procured different Emmy nominations, including a notable extraordinary lead actress in a drama series win for Zendaya — will executive produce The Idol by means of his Little Lamb Productions organization with its co-founders Ashley Levinson and Kevin Turen. Aaron L. Gilbert will executive produce by means of Bron Studios. Wassim “Sal” Slaiby and La Mar C. Taylor, two key individuals from The Weeknd’s XO brain trust, are additionally credited as executive producers.