The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, will star in the six-episode series. Development started in June of this year.
Set against the backdrop of the music industry, the series centres on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult, who develops a complicated relationship with an up-and-coming pop idol.
Lily-Rose Depp stars alongside The Weeknd. Suzanna Son, Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Steve Zissis, Troye Sivan, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, Nico Hiraga, and Anne Heche join them.
Amy Seimetz ('Atlanta') is set to direct all six episodes of the show.
Son, Sivan and Zissis will be series regulars, while Liburd, Adebimpe, Lauren, Hiraga and Heche have recurring parts
The Weeknd previously co-wrote and did voice work on a 2020 episode of TBS’ 'American Dad'. He also appeared in 'Uncut Gems'.
HBO Programming executive VP Francesca Orsi said, "When the multitalented Abel Tesfaye, Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson brought us The Idol, it was clear their subversive, revelatory take on the cult of the music industry was unlike anything HBO had ever done before."
"The brilliant duo of Joe Epstein and Amy Seimetz joined forces with the rest of the team, and this dream became a reality."
