BLACKPINK Jennie‘s first HBO’s series The Idol has been canceled after one season.
“The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response,” stated an HBO spokesperson. “After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work.”
The first season, which was shortened to five episodes from its originally planned six-episode run, wrapped up on July 2nd. The decision to cancel the show was recently prompted by the uncertainty surrounding its potential continuation. Moses Sumney, one of the stars, mentioned in an interview with Variety that he initially signed on believing it was a limited series. On the other hand, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, another star, mentioned that everyone assumed the series would be renewed for a second season. When rumors of cancellation first emerged, HBO posted on Twitter that there was no official update.
The Idol, co-created by Levinson and The Weeknd, drew significant attention prior to its premiere. News emerged in April 2022 that Amy Seimetz had departed as director, leading to Levinson taking over the projects. In March 2023, a Rolling Stone exposé revealed serious allegations about a toxic set environment, prompting The Weeknd to share a cut scene where his character dismissed Rolling Stone as “irrelevant.” At the Cannes Film Festival, Levinson acknowledged the controversy but predicted the show’s surge in popularity.
Overall, The Idol struggled, earning a mere 19% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety’s review characterized the series as “plays like a sordid male fantasy.”
The show’s premiere attracted 913,000 viewers, 17% fewer than the 2019 launch of Euphoria, another Levinson-created HBO series geared towards young adults. However, viewership grew to 3.6 million after the first week, currently sitting at 7 million. Episode 2 saw viewership drop to 800,000 on its premiere night.
Throughout the series’ run, HBO refrained from disclosing viewership data.
In addition to Levinson and The Weeknd, Reza Fahim was a co-creator of The Idol. All three served as executive producers alongside Kevin Turen, Ashley Levinson, Joe Epstein, Sara E. White, and Aaron L. Gilbert from Bron. A24 was also involved in production.
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