Lily-Rose Depp’s The Idol Canceled In Shocking Move

By Chad Langen | Updated

Lily-Rose Depp in The Idol

The Idol, the HBO series from The Weeknd and Sam Levinson, has been axed following a single, unfavorably reviewed season, according to Deadline. The show’s five-episode season, initially intended to span six episodes, concluded earlier this summer. Despite contradictory remarks from cast members like Lily-Rose Depp regarding potential follow-up plans, an HBO spokesperson confirmed that despite a positive audience reception, they’ve opted against pursuing another season.

The Idol was a disaster for HBO, so no one is surprised it’s been canceled after only a five-episode season.

Lily-Rose Depp takes on the role of Jocelyn in The Idol, where she portrays a pop sensation striving to regain her status as the nation’s sexiest pop star, having faced a hiatus due to a nerve-wracking collapse during a prior tour. Unexpectedly, she becomes entangled with a cult leader and nightclub proprietor, played by The Weeknd, unraveling the darker facets of the music business. Suzanna Son, Troye Sivan, Jane Adams, Jennie Kim, Rachel Sennott, Hari Nef, Mosey Sumney, Ramsey, and Hank Azaria also have roles on the show.

Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd in The Idol

The initial announcement of The Idol sparked excitement, as it brought together the creative talents of Sam Levinson, the mastermind behind HBO’s hit series Euphoria, and featured Lily-Rose Depp in the lead role. Given the widespread success and praise garnered by each season of Euphoria, combined with Lily-Rose Depp’s Hollywood prominence as Johnny Depp’s daughter and a burgeoning star, expectations were high for The Idol to emerge as HBO’s next major sensation. Unfortunately, the show’s short-lived run illustrates that the anticipated outcome did not materialize.

Upon its arrival, The Idol faced a unanimous wave of negative feedback, with both critics and audiences condemning the show for perceived misogyny and one-dimensional characters…

The excitement surrounding The Idol took a negative turn even before its debut. There were reports of production difficulties and a toxic on-set environment. The situation escalated to the point where the cast, including Lily-Rose Depp, had to publicly defend the show during a press conference prior to its release.

the idol lily rose depp
The Idol

Upon its arrival, The Idol faced a unanimous wave of negative feedback, with both critics and audiences condemning the show for perceived misogyny and one-dimensional characters, including Lily-Rose Depp’s Jocelyn. Reflecting this sentiment, the series holds a meager 19 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. While the audience score fares slightly better at 41 percent, it still falls far from acclaim.

Fortunately, Lily-Rose Depp will next appear in Nosferatu, which is generating significant buzz. The film was written and directed by Robert Eggers. Hopefully, it lives up to expectations and manages to cleanse Depp’s fans’ palates after the disappointment of The Idol.

When The Idol was nearly complete, the original show runner left, causing HBO to scrap most of the footage and redo nearly everything.

Nosferatu weaves a gothic narrative centered on the eerie fixation between a tormented young woman in 19th-century Germany and the ancient Transylvanian vampire relentlessly pursuing her, ushering in unfathomable terror. Along with Lily-Rose Depp from The Idol, the film stars Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgard, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson, and Emma Corrin. It’s expected to arrive in theaters sometime in 2024.

For now, you can catch Lily-Rose Depp in The Idol. All five episodes of the short-lived series are currently streaming on Max. However, if you’d rather avoid a less-than-pleasant viewing experience, we strongly recommend checking out the notably superior Euphoria, starring Zendaya, also streaming on Max.