The upcoming HBO drama The Idol, which is centered in and around the music industry, will undergo substantial reshoots as the series shifts to a new creative direction, according to an announcement made yesterday. According to Deadline, Amy Seimetz, who had been set to helm all of the series' episodes, has now dropped out.
The Idol is a show created by Sam Levinson, Reza Fahim, and award-winning musician The Weekend, aka Abel Tesfaye, who previously worked on Euphoria. The plot follows a budding pop sensation as she falls in love with an L.A. nightclub owner who is secretly conducting a cult. HBO released a statement yesterday regarding the series' relaunch, stating:
"The Idol creative team is continuing to develop, improve, and grow their vision for the show, and they've agreed on a new artistic direction." To better serve this new approach to the series, the production will change its cast and personnel accordingly. We hope to provide further details in the near future."
Although there has been no official comment on why Seimetz is leaving the project, it appears that she is leaving in the wake of these creative adjustments. Seimetz directed episodes of Atlanta and Outer Range, as well as co-creating and directing the drama series The Girlfriend Experience.
After directing numerous episodes of Euphoria and the Netflix drama Malcolm & Marie, Levinson is likely to play a role in directing the series now.
The Idol was supposed to star Tesfaye and Lily Rose-Depp, with Troye Sivan, Suzanna Son, Steve Zissis, Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, Nico Hiraga, and Anne Heche in supporting and recurring parts before the creative makeover. It's unclear how much of this cast will stick around as the show evolves.
Mary Laws and Joseph Epstein co-wrote the series alongside Tesfaye. Laws has written for TV shows such as Preacher and Succession in the past. Epstein will also serve as the show's showrunner. Levinson, Tesfaye, Fahim, Epstein, Ashley Levinson, Kevin Turen, and Aaron L. Gilbert will all serve as executive producers for the series. Wassim "SAL" Slaiby, Tesfaye's manager, and La Mar C. Taylor served as co-executive producers alongside Laws. There's no indication on whether any of these people, including Seimetz, will be quitting the project.
As the specifics of The Idol's creative revamp begin to emerge, keep an eye on Collider for additional updates.
The Idol is a show created by Sam Levinson, Reza Fahim, and award-winning musician The Weekend, aka Abel Tesfaye, who previously worked on Euphoria. The plot follows a budding pop sensation as she falls in love with an L.A. nightclub owner who is secretly conducting a cult. HBO released a statement yesterday regarding the series' relaunch, stating:
"The Idol creative team is continuing to develop, improve, and grow their vision for the show, and they've agreed on a new artistic direction." To better serve this new approach to the series, the production will change its cast and personnel accordingly. We hope to provide further details in the near future."
Although there has been no official comment on why Seimetz is leaving the project, it appears that she is leaving in the wake of these creative adjustments. Seimetz directed episodes of Atlanta and Outer Range, as well as co-creating and directing the drama series The Girlfriend Experience.
After directing numerous episodes of Euphoria and the Netflix drama Malcolm & Marie, Levinson is likely to play a role in directing the series now.
The Idol was supposed to star Tesfaye and Lily Rose-Depp, with Troye Sivan, Suzanna Son, Steve Zissis, Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, Nico Hiraga, and Anne Heche in supporting and recurring parts before the creative makeover. It's unclear how much of this cast will stick around as the show evolves.
Mary Laws and Joseph Epstein co-wrote the series alongside Tesfaye. Laws has written for TV shows such as Preacher and Succession in the past. Epstein will also serve as the show's showrunner. Levinson, Tesfaye, Fahim, Epstein, Ashley Levinson, Kevin Turen, and Aaron L. Gilbert will all serve as executive producers for the series. Wassim "SAL" Slaiby, Tesfaye's manager, and La Mar C. Taylor served as co-executive producers alongside Laws. There's no indication on whether any of these people, including Seimetz, will be quitting the project.
As the specifics of The Idol's creative revamp begin to emerge, keep an eye on Collider for additional updates.
