HBO Confirms ‘The Idol’ Won’t Return for Second Season

*HBO confirmed Monday that “The Idol” will not return for a second season. 

As we reported previously, the controversial limited series starring Lily-Rose Depp and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye rattled viewers due to the wild sex scene between the two stars. As BuzzFeed reported, “The Idol” received a six-episode order in November 2021 and the six-episode directed by Amy Seimetz was nearly complete when she walked away from the project.

When “The Idol” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, it was listed as a five-episode series. The Weeknd also referred to the show as a “five-hour film” during an interview with GQ earlier this month.

According to Rolling Stone, “roughly 80 percent of the six-episode series” was finished when Seimetz suddenly left. Her vision was “leaning too much into a ‘female perspective,’” the Weeknd allegedly said.

HBO previously denied reports that “The Idol” would conclude after the first season due to the criticism about the graphic sex scenes and violence. 

the finale. grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end. continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey. Jocelyn Forever ???? @HBO @StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/atQLrba4YO

— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) July 3, 2023

Many viewers flooded social media to speculate that “The Idol” was ending prematurely due to the overwhelmingly negative response it received.

Rolling Stone published an exposé in March that detailed the contentious re-writing process that led to the series being dubbed “sexual torture porn.”

The cancelation of the show was a mutual decision that included series creators Tesfaye, Reza Fahim, and Sam Levinson, per Deadline. 

“The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response,” an HBO spokesperson told the outlet.. “After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers, have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work.”

READ MORE: ‘The Idol’ to End After 5 Episodes Amid Overwhelming Negative Response

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!