Hype is reaching fever pitch for one of the buzziest shows of the year: The Idol is created by and stars singer-songwriter The Weeknd, also featuring Lily-Rose Depp and just premiered at Cannes. It’s co-created and directed by Sam Levinson, who created the hugely popular HBO series Euphoria.

But what does a TV show from The Weeknd look like? Described as coming from “the sick and twisted minds of Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye”, the series is set, fittingly, in the backdrop of the music industry, with a self help leader entering into a complicated relationship with a pop singer. Adding to the quirkiness, said self-help guru also happens to be the leader of a modern day cult.

It’s best to go in with as little plot knowledge as possible, but HBO has given us a trailer giving a glimpse at the turbulent world we’ll be entering once it hits screens. There’s a lot of tacky excess on display in the trailer, with an abundance of guns, cars, mansions, and thumping music certainly seems like the show wants to beat Euphoria in scandalous, outrageous drama. It’s even billed as “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood.”

The Weeknd will be starring as the guru/cult leader Tedros, with Depp as his pop idol Jocelyn. Also starring is actor and RuPaul’s Drag Race guest judge Troye Sivan, Debby Ryan who’s appeared in Netflix’s Insatiable, South Korean rapper and actress Jennie Kim, Rachel Sennot who starred in Shiva Baby, and actress and model Hari Nef. After several delays and production issues, the series is finally set to arrive in June and production company A24 is helping to fund and create it.

If you’re looking for something to replace the intense ride and thrills of Euphoria, The Idol will definitely be vying for your attention, and it must just be worth it according to critics. As with most other HBO shows, the series will be arriving over here in the UK on Sky Atlantic.

THE IDOL IS SET TO ARRIVE ON SKY ON 4th JUNE


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