
Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye on his role in The Idol
Possibly the most talked-about HBO Original series of 2023, The Idol came from Emmy-nominated Euphoria creator-director, Sam Levinson, and Oscar-nominated, Grammy-winning pop star Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, who co-stars alongside Lily-Rose Depp in her breakthrough lead role.
After scandalising the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, the 18LSDN The Idol quickly moved up the ranks of IMDb's Most Popular TV Series chart, with The Guardian calling it “2023’s most controversial show.”
Depp plays mega-star Jocelyn, whose nervous breakdown derailed her last tour. Will her romantic awakening with club owner and self-help guru Tedros (Tesfaye) help her claim her rightful status as America’s sexiest pop idol or take her to the deepest and darkest depths of her soul?
Watch the trailer for The Idol
As Vogue put it, “The same audiences that fell hard for Euphoria — another show about the terrors of being young — will likely do the same for this one. It is buzzy, brazen television that will do exactly what it set out to do: get people talking.”
Saying the “controversial new show shocks and awes”, Mashable called 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…”
Tesfaye was born to Ethiopian immigrants, left home at 17, was homeless for a while, and started out releasing songs anonymously on YouTube before Blinding Lights became Spotify’s most streamed song of all time.
It's no surprise that certain elements of the show were inspired by Tesfaye's own journey as a mega-famous music star.
“The tone is dark, sexy and a commentary on the music industry. And I was inspired by how dark Hollywood can be if you run into the wrong types of people, especially in the music industry. What I can say about Tedros is that he is a complex and charismatic outsider. He’s manipulative and calculating. I had to disappear from myself in order to tap into his psychology. Fortunately, I've never let anyone like Tedros into my life," says Tesfaye.

HBO filmed a 2021 version of The Idol that was eventually scrapped. Tesfaye says the main reasons he and co-creator Sam Levinson decided to reshoot was because the original show "just didn't land".
"I personally felt like it wasn’t true to our original concept. Lily worked so hard to bring our vision to life. She deserves this version of the show. She’s a fucking star," Tesfaye says. “Sam and I spent a lot of time together on set – my house! – before shooting. We really tapped into the psychology of Tedros. I got to live the character for so long that, once the cameras were rolling, we were tapped in. It was like there were no cameras at all.” There were, in fact, three cameras rolling for a more naturalistic feel.
On the parallels between the show and the real-life music industry, Tesfaye says that The Idol is a "heightened, exaggerated version of reality".

Tedros has a unique look and style - in two separate instances, other characters comment on his "rat tail". Tesfaye says Tedros's style was important to remove his persona as The Weeknd in the show.
"[Sam and I] did our best to have the audience not be distracted by seeing me and, instead, be immersed in Tedros’ image. The durag on his head, his wearing women’s clothes, sketchy tattoos … they all speak to a mysterious past and a conflicted narrative he carries about himself. The Weeknd is a character that I had to strip away and then build up to Tedros in his place.”
Finally - the question on audiences' minds was what it was like for Tesfaye to act opposite Lily-Rose Depp.
“It felt like learning a new dance and she was an incredible partner," he says. "I had to go to some very dark, vulnerable places and with her there with me I felt safe and protected. I definitely learned from Lily. I felt like we connected artistically on such a deep level, more than any collaborator I’ve ever worked with. I can’t wait for people to see her performance in this show and what we captured.”
All five episodes are now streaming on Showmax.
More like this

MobLand S1
Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan propel this gripping, gritty crime drama series that follows two powerful families engaged in an intense power struggle.
Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax
Not everybody can be the Godfather. From MobLand to The Cleaning Lady to Gangs of London, we look at 11 small but essential jobs that take care of the organising behind organised crime.

Must-watch trailer: The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa brings together Housewives from across the continent, landing on Showmax on 28 November 2025.

The Real Housewives of Potomac S9-10
The reality series follows several well-to-do women who live in a community of rolling hills and gated mansions in Potomac.

From The Office to The Paper
As The Office’s OG documentary crew gets a new business in their crosshairs, we expose the connections between these two workplace mockumentaries.

Dexter's deadly to-do list in Dexter: Resurrection
Dexter’s son Harrison “killed” him in the finale of Dexter: New Blood. But he’s back from the dead and on a mission: tie up loose ends.

Clementine Mosimane, Mondli Makhoba and Luyanda Zwane join Spinners S2
Clementine Mosimane, Mondli Makhoba and Luyanda Zwane join the cast of Spinners for Season 2, coming to CANAL+ platforms, DStv and Showmax.

Inside spy movie Black Bag
Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, director Steven Soderbergh and writer David Koepp give us a top-secret peek inside their new spy movie Black Bag.
HBO's Warrior Season 3 is now streaming, express from the US
All American: Homecoming S2 - not your average sports drama
More HBO greatness

MobLand S1
Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan propel this gripping, gritty crime drama series that follows two powerful families engaged in an intense power struggle.
Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax
Not everybody can be the Godfather. From MobLand to The Cleaning Lady to Gangs of London, we look at 11 small but essential jobs that take care of the organising behind organised crime.

Must-watch trailer: The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa brings together Housewives from across the continent, landing on Showmax on 28 November 2025.

Showmax Premier League weekly watchlist: 14-22 October 2025
Stream every Premier League and PSL game on your mobile device live on Showmax Premier League.
Latest Stories

Bafana Bafana composed for Durban showdown against Zimbabwe

Arsenal and Liverpool early front-runners ahead of Premier League international break

Married at First Sight's Portia Baloyi on the reunion and her ex
Must-watch trailer: Slay Queens doccie coming to Showmax

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red

Relebogile Mabotja to host the two-hour Married at First Sight reunion special

South Africa in third place at International Emmys, with four MultiChoice nominations

What to watch on Showmax in October 2025

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade

Married at First Sight: Themba on his "stunning" wife Nelisa

June Squibb wins Best Actress award at age 95 for Thelma

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue

Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr chat about Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

Where to see the cast of Levels on Showmax

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham

Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax

Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist

Uncover the soul of South African football with the boxset of Giants

Rianza Snyman on Vaal Riviera and being a stay-at-home mom

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

SA siblings’ debut film chosen for BFI London Film Festival

Simo Magwaza on his challenging role as De Klerk in Youngins