Not a lot of shows this year have made as many waves as The Idol – Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye’s exploration of pop stardom, starring Lily-Rose Depp as a famous singer, and the “Blinding Lights” musician as a cult leader.
The HBO series premiered its first two episodes at the Cannes Film Festival in May to poor reviews. The majority of critics accused the show of perpetuating the patriarchal and exploitative system it claims to be exposing, rejecting the gratuitous sexual content that permeates it.
Ahead of Cannes, The Idol‘s reputation had already been smudged by an exposé published by Rolling Stone, referring to unnamed crew members’ complaints about an alleged toxic set after Levinson replaced original director Amy Seimetz. The same sources claimed the Euphoria scribe had turned the show into “torture porn.”
For a show like this, which Tesfaye says was purposefully made to “piss people off,” the bad press might just be the best kind of promo the duo could have asked for. So much controversy will only attract curious spectators as episodes roll out weekly on HBO. Meanwhile, here is a breakdown of the packed, high-profile cast of The Idol.
Lily-Rose Depp is Jocelyn
The star at the center of it all, Lily-Rose Depp plays Jocelyn. The famous pop singer’s career is the driving force behind The Idol with every other character occupying a place in her team.
The Weeknd is Tedros
The Weeknd’s Tedros is a guru/cult leader, as well as a nightclub owner, who enters Jocelyn’s life, becoming a huge influence on her – and not always for the best.
Hank Azaria is Chaim
Hank Azaria, the actor famous for voicing a number of major characters in The Simpsons, plays Chaim – one of Jocelyn’s many managers.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph is Destiny
Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s character Destiny is also a manager to Jocelyn, sharing scenes with Hank Azaria and Rachel Sennott. She is close to the singer and acts as her confidante.
Jane Adams is Nikki Katz
Nikki Katz, played by Hung’s Jane Adams, is an old-school record label executive, who works closely with Jocelyn and tries to handle her brand as best as she can.
Jennie Kim is Dyanne
BLACKPINK’s Jennie makes her acting debut in The Idol as Dyanne – a backup dancer for Jocelyn. The two attend Tedros’ nightclub together where Jocelyn first meets the dodgy cult leader.
Rachel Sennott is Leia
Bodies Bodies Bodies and Shiva Baby breakout star Rachel Sennott plays Jocelyn’s personal assistant and friend Leia. She’s new to the job and scrambling to find her footing.
Dan Levy is Benjamin
Dan Levy is one of the most famous faces in The Idol. Best known for his role in Schitt’s Creek, Levy plays Benjamin – Jocelyn’s publicist who must deal with Tedros’ unorthodox influence on the singer.
Troye Sivan is Xander
Troye Sivan’s character Xander is one of Jocelyn’s best friends as well as her creative director. Like The Weeknd, Jennie, and a few other cast members on this list, Sivan is also a famous singer in real life.
Hari Nef is Talia
Hari Nef’s Talia is a Vanity Fair journalist tasked with writing a profile on Jocelyn. 2023 is set to be a great year for Nef who is also appearing Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.
Moses Sumney is Izaak
After using his song “Me in 20 Years” on Euphoria, the natural next step was for Sam Levinson to actually cast singer-songwriter Moses Sumney in one of his projects. On The Idol, Sumney plays Izaak, one of Tedros’ cult members.
Suzanna Son is Chloe
Suzanna Son is still taking her first steps as an actress after her breakout role in 2021’s Red Rocket. In The Idol, she is also one of Tedros’ followers alongside Izaak. Her character’s name is Chloe.
Eli Roth is Andrew Finkelstein
Viewers will recognize Eli Roth first as a director rather than an actor. He’s the filmmaker behind the popular horror movies Cabin Fever and Hostel, but in the HBO show, he plays Andrew Finkelstein — a representative for the entertainment company Live Nation.
Additional cast
Also joining the cast for The Idol in minor roles are singer Ramsey, actress/model Sophie Mudd, as well as the stylist for the Weeknd Mitch Modes. Acclaimed music producer Mike Dean, who also helped make the score for the show, is also featured.
