Sam Levinson: Last News

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Jeremy O. Harris is best known as the playwright of “Slave Play,” which picked up a record-setting 12 Tony Award nominations in 2021, but he’s also a producer on HBO’s Emmy-winning “Euphoria.” During an interview as part of Variety and Kering’s Women in Motion talks at Cannes, Harris called on Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav “to make a deal” so that the ongoing writers strike can end and “Euphoria” Season 3 can go into production as scheduled. “All I’ll say is Sam Levinson is not a scab,” Harris said about the “Euphoria” creator not crossing picket lines to go into production. “He’s not a scab. David Zaslav, make a deal. That’s what I’ll say about Season 3 of ‘Euphoria.’ Make a deal, David. It’s easy. Just come to that table.”

Kid Cudi hosted one of his regular fan Q&A sessions on Twitter yesterday (May 14) to discuss the status of his forthcoming ninth studio album. In response to one tweet referencing “Solo Dolo Pt 4,” an unreleased track featuring Playboi Carti that Cudi has performed at recent concerts, Cudi said that Playboi Carti’s refusal to clear his appearance means the track won’t be included on his project.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor In a sprawling new cover story in Vanity Fair, the Weeknd talks about the dark rumors surrounding his forthcoming HBO series “The Idol” and speaks broadly of what will apparently be the third iteration of his musical persona.   The series comes at a transitional time for the artist, who spoke of his theatrical ambitions in an expansive 2020 Variety cover story pegged to the release of his blockbuster album “After Hours.” In many ways “The Idol” is a conclusion of that dark, superstar phase of the Weeknd: Although he insists he is not Tedros, the abusive and misogynistic Svengali he portrays in the show — who is manipulating a pop star played by Lily Rose Depp, both career-wise and personally — it’s not worlds away from the nihilistic, sex-obsessed, drug-addled persona that populates many of his songs. In fact, he says he’s closer to Depp’s character.          

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Filming HBO’s “The Idol” led to something of a breakdown for Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, the global pop star whose starring in the upcoming series as a self-help guru named Tedros who takes aspiring pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) under his wing. Back in September, Tesfaye cut short a concert in Los Angeles because he lost his voice. “I don’t know what just happened… but I just lost my voice,” the singer told the crowd from the stage. “This is killing me, I don’t want to stop the show but I can’t give you the concert I want to give you right now. I’m gonna make sure everybody’s good — you’ll get your money back — I’ll do a show real soon for you guys. But I wanted to come out and personally apologize.”

Charna Flam Ahead of the Cannes Film Festival debut and summer premiere of Sam Levinson’s upcoming drama series “The Idol,” the director offered some insight on how the HBO production was conceived. The “Euphoria” showrunner explained how the series lead, Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, pitched the premise. “Abel came to us with a pitch,” Levinson told W Magazine. “He said something that I’ll always remember: ‘If I wanted to start a cult, I could.’” “What he meant is that his fans were so loyal and devoted that they would follow him anywhere,” Levinson continued. “That was the germ of the idea for ‘The Idol’: what happens when a pop star falls for the wrong guy and no one speaks up.”

The Weeknd has addressed the production troubles on his upcoming HBO series The Idol, describing the show’s overhaul as a “challenge”.Set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later this month, The Idol follows aspiring pop singer Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) who falls into a complex relationship with self-help guru and cult leader Tedros (Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd).The series, created by Tesfaye, Reza Fahim and Euphoria’s Sam Levinson, underwent an overhaul in April 2022 after a rough-cut was completed. This led to various changes in the cast and crew, including the departure of director Amy Seimetz.According to an interview with Tesfaye and Levinson with W Magazine, the singer was concerned the dynamic between his cult figure character and Jocelyn in the original cut was “not as complex” as they had envisioned, which led to a “pivot”.“Film and TV is a new creative muscle for me,” Tesfaye told the outlet. “I don’t release my music until I think it is great.

Next month will bring the arrival of The Idol, the debut series by The Weeknd, to HBO. In a new interview with W Magazine, Abel Tesfaye has suggested that his move into film and TV has coincided with what he sees as the end of his music-making career, at least in some capacity. Speaking about where he is at creatively at the moment, Tesfaye told the magazine in a new cover story, "I’m going through a cathartic path right now.

Emily Longeretta The days of fall TV being the time for new shows to premiere are long gone. This summer, prep for bingeing per usual with a slew of unscripted and scripted series coming to both streamers and network TV. Likely the most-anticipated series of the year, HBO’s “The Idol,” will premiere in July after a great deal of delays and reshoots.

A.D. Amorosi Famous since the top of the 1990s for bold, old-school, synth-rich productions of hardcore rappers (Scarface), multi-hyphenate hip-hop magnates (Kanye West, Travis Scott) and symphonically scored R&B vocalists (Beyoncé, the Weeknd), Mike Dean always sounds as if he’s having the most fun on his chill solo excursions. Take the surprise drop this past weekend of “4:23,” another of Dean’s schmoked-up stoner efforts that, like 2020’s buoyant instrumental album “4:20,” is equal parts steely sci-fi epic soundtrack and spaced-out dream-pop.“4:23” is occasionally reminiscent of Dean’s home-recorded, souped-up synth-works, full of proggy impromptu noodling carved from larger ice block suites. But this new album mostly features tracks more succinct and cutting — actual songs. For such freshly anointed precision, we can likely credit Dean’s steadfast collaborator, tour partner and streaming network co-star, the Weeknd, who takes on a role here as the executive producer of “4:23.”

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures has acquired action/horror/comedy Hell Naw with Scott Mescudi AKA Kid Cudi attached to star and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson producing. Academy Award Nominees Keith & Kenny Lucas are writing the script, which is in early development. Mescudi will also produce along with his partners Karina Manashil and Dennis Cummings through their Mad Solar banner with Sam and Ashley Levinson producing through their Little Lamb production company. BRON and H. Wood Films are also producing.

The Weeknd and Future have released the new collaborative single k ‘Double Fantasy’ for the soundtrack to new HBO drama The Idol.The track is the first to be released from the official soundtrack of the new HBO Max series The Idol. The Weeknd co-created the show with Sam Levinson and Reza Fahim, and is said to be “one of HBO’s most provocative” shows yet.‘Double Fantasy’ is a darkened space pop track where The Weeknd – real name Abel Tesfaye – sings about a toxic relationship.

The Weeknd is speaking out about the criticism “The Idol” has experienced.

“torture porn” — is here.The “Blinding Lights” history-maker, 33, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, portrays shady nightclub owner Tedros, who becomes obsessed with Jocelyn, an up-and-coming pop star played by “nepo baby” Lily-Rose Depp, 23. “When was the last truly f – – king nasty, nasty bad-pop girl?” asks Jocelyn’s friend Caleb, portrayed by singer Troye Sivan, 27, as she poses for a sexy photo shoot in the teaser.

Being a pop star has its dark side.

The Idol, a new TV show from The Weeknd, Reza Fahim, and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, will debut this summer, it has been confirmed. The series will launch on HBO and the recently-renamed streaming service Max, on June 4.

the latest teaser and June premiere date for the controversial new series,, starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp.Co-created by Sam Levinson, The Weeknd — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — and Reza Fahim, the upcoming drama follows a pop star named Jocelyn (Depp) who is determined to reclaim «her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America» after a nervous breakdown derailed her career. In doing so, she encounters Tedros (The Weeknd), a nightclub impresario who reignites her passions while also possibly leading her down a dark new path. In the new video set to Britney Spears' «Gimme More,» viewers get a taste for what's to come as Jocelyn navigates the ups and downs of being in the spotlight as she deals with video shoots, social media updates and various managers, publicists and entourage members all trying to control her narrative. In addition to The Weeknd and Depp, the series also stars Troye Siva, Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, Jennie Ruby Jane, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Rachel Sennott, Ramsey, Suzanna Son and Hank Azaria.Leading up to its debut, sparked controversy after a investigation reported that the production had «gone wildly, disgustingly off the rails» with regard to chaotic scheduling, going over budget, last-minute script changes and overhauls on graphically violent and sexual scenes.In response, The Weeknd shared a clip from the series, in which his character slams the magazine for being «irrelevant.» The singer even threw additional shade in the caption, by writing, "@rollingstone did we upset you?«Depp also spoke out, telling ET, „Sam is, for so many reasons, the best director I have ever worked with.

McKinley Franklin editor It’s time to gawk at the rise (and fall?) of a new megalomanic pop star.  HBO has announced that its original series “The Idol” will premiere on Sunday, June 4 at 9 p.m., with the network releasing another erotic teaser for the series. The new footage touts the series’ inclusion in the out of competition selection of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The trailer opens with the question of when the industry saw “the last truly-fucking-nasty, nasty pop-girl.” Cue Britney Spears’ “Gimme More.”  “The Idol” stars Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn, a fame-hungry young woman looking to take over the entertainment industry. When she meets Tedros, a powerful, sex-obsessed cult leader portrayed by Abel “The Weekend” Tesfaye, Jocelyn’s career expands to new heights.

The Weeknd had previously responded to reports about his HBO show The Idol and the alleged controversies surrounding some behind-the-scenes stories (including numerous delays, “torture porn” vibes from Sam Levinson, and more).

Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here penning the weekly mailer a day after Cannes revealed its long-awaited lineup. Read on for all the details and plenty more, and sign up to the International Insider here.

Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux unveiled the bulk of the Official Selection for the 76th edition of the festival at a packed press conference in Paris on Thursday morning.

Stars are getting ready to walk the Croisette.