One season and then goes. The series "The Idol", massacred by critics since its release, is canceled, announced HBO on Monday. The sulphurous series, described as "one of the most provocative original programs" by one of the channel's spokesmen, will not have a sequel.
"After careful consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to offer a second season," said the spokesperson, before praising the "incredible work" provided by the creators, crew and actors of the series.
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This decision comes after many months of speculation about the continuation of the series, despite a successful first season in terms of audiences but marred by many controversies. Last March, an investigation by the famous magazine Rolling Stone denounced the very dark backstage of the series, between "fantasy of rape" and toxic masculinity.
Delay, rewriting and violent scenes
If the series was originally to offer a female point of view on the grip and violence in a couple, the departure in April 2022 of director Amy Seimetz would have changed everything. Since then, the controversies have continued. The drastic delay taken by the series would be due to the fact that Sam Levinson, director of the series who took over the reins of the series after the departure of Amy Seimetz, abandoned the almost finished project of the series, estimated between 54 and 75 million dollars, to rewrite it.
While the series was supposed to tell the life of a struggling starlet victim of a predator of the music industry, it would eventually turn to a "degrading love story with a hollow message that some members of the team describe as offensive," notes Rolling Stone. Many disturbing and violent scenes would have appeared in the script with the character played by Lily-Rose Depp.
Even before its out-of-competition presentation at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the series was under fire from critics. During a press conference on the Croisette, Lily-Rose Depp had denied all these accusations.
The testimonies unveiled by Rolling Stone nevertheless echo the rumors that circulated on the set of the series "Euphoria", created by the same Sam Levinson. According to several sources, great tensions had appeared between Sam Levinson and actress Barbie Ferreira, who had left the series later.