Scott Mescudi, Sam Levinson And The Lucas Brothers Team On Zombie Action Comedy ‘Hell Naw’ At Sony

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.”

Whoa! What happened?!

A bunch of nosy kids get into trouble looking for things they shouldn’t be in Disney’s latest sci-fi adventure film Crater. Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez and written by John Griffin, the film follows five friends as they travel to a moon crater to find treasure  in the 23rd century. 

EXCLUSIVE: Scott Mescudi (X) has closed a deal to star opposite Jessica Biel and Xochitl Gomez in the sci-fi thriller Ursa Major, from Kin filmmakers Jonathan and Josh Baker.

Michael Nordine author Some straight-to-streaming offerings inspire viewers to bemoan the movie’s fate, wishing it had received a proper theatrical release — to be seen the way movies are meant to be seen, and by the widest audience possible. “Crater” isn’t one of those, but neither is this Disney+ original mere algorithm-created dross. Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s lunar adventure follows five young friends as they hijack a rover to visit an enigmatic crater for one last hurrah before one of them leaves the moon forever. It’s sci-fi informed by a Gen-Z sensibility, with a particular focus on those Zoomers who can’t imagine a bright future on the planet they actually inhabit — an ever-expanding demographic, one imagines.

In the months leading up to the release of HBO’s new musical drama, “The Idol,” most of the discussion has little to do with the footage that has been shown. Instead, everyone is talking about the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the making of the show, including the massive challenge of reshooting the entire season midway through production.

lost his voice after his SoFi Stadium concert in September because he had to switch from his upcoming character in “The Idol” to his onstage persona.The concert doubled as a set for Sam Levinson’s new HBO show, set to premiere June 4. A scene in “The Idol” in which Tedros performs live brought Tesfaye back and forth between the mind of his club-owning character to the mindset of The Weeknd. Lily Rose-Depp was in attendance at the show to introduce Tedros in front of a live crowd for the scene being shot. Tesfaye’s Tedros, a darkly charismatic Svengali man, looks very different from how The Weeknd presents. “It was tough to go from one head to another.

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.”

Ti West’s terrific “X” (he also served as an executive producer) and has stuck around the so-called “X” franchise, executive producing prequel “Pearl” and the upcoming sequel “MaXXXine.” He’ll soon appear in the Disney+ original film “Crater,” John Woo’s quiet action movie “Silent Night” and will be heard alongside Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick in “Trolls Band Together.”Executive producers on “Hell Naw” are Aaron L. Gilbert, Brenda Gilbert, Stuart Manashil, Kevin Turen, Harrison Kreiss, John Terzian, Jeremy Allen, with Brian Toll serving as associate producer.

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.

As promised, the Knuckles spinoff series is officially a go at Paramount+ and the cast list was just revealed!

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.

On the heels of Harry Styles’ highly publicized pivot to acting and Taylor Swift’s already-infamous cameo in David O. Russell’s latest flop “Amsterdam,” another major pop star is throwing their hat in the acting ring.

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.