HBO's The Idol with Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd is on Showmax

5 June 2023

The Idol S1

Currently at #13 on IMDb’s Most Popular TV list after its hotly debated world premiere at the 2023 Festival de Cannes, The Idol is a new 18LSDN HBO Original co-created and co-written by Emmy-nominated director Sam Levinson (Euphoria), Oscar nominee and Grammy winner Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye (who also co-stars), and Reza Fahim.

After a nervous breakdown derailed her last tour, Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) is determined to claim her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America. Her passions are reignited by self-help guru and cult leader Tedros (Tesfaye). Will her romantic awakening take her to glorious new heights or the deepest and darkest depths of her soul?

Saying the “controversial new show shocks and awes”, Mashable calls The Idol “an electric charge of a series… a raucous, engrossing ride on an industry nightmare train bound to careen off a cliff… The way it captures the sickness of the fame machine will stay with you long after the credits roll… a surprisingly nuanced, well rounded, and deliciously bold take on the cost of fame and the drive for greatness.”

South African-born pop star Troye Sivan co-stars. Since his first, SAFTA-nominated lead role as John “Spud” Milton in the Spud trilogy, Sivan’s career has exploded, with over 18m listeners a month on Spotify, nearly eight million YouTube subscribers, MTV Europe Music Award and GLAAD Awards, and a Golden Globe nomination.

Also look out for Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Moses Sumney, Emmy winners Dan Levy (Schitt's Creek), and Hank Azaria (multiple voices in The Simpsons), Black Reel winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building), Emmy nominee Jane Adams (Hacks), 2023 MTV Movie + TV Awards breakthrough performance nominee Rachel Sennott (Bodies Bodies Bodies) and the late Anne Heche, in one of her last onscreen roles.

Watch it now

More binge-worthy shows to stream

Masinga - The Calling (2024)

Inspector Masinga is dispatched back to Africa on a sex-trafficking case, and once he's home, he tries to find justice for the killing of his brother.

OriginalMade in South Africa

Must-watch trailer for Showmax's turbo-charged reality series Volspoed

Watch the trailer for Volspoed, Showmax's upcoming reality series about racer Antonie Marx, his family and his racing team. From 6 January 2026.

OriginalMade in South Africa

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Africa.jpg

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip cast on first impressions, beefs and more

The ladies from The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa share their first impressions of Housewives from other franchises. Catch new episodes every Friday on Showmax.

Original