Is The Idol on HBO based on a true story – Sam Levinson’s highly-anticipated HBO series, “The Idol,” has sparked intense debate since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last May, drawing considerable dissent from critics. Its release to HBO and Max audiences has generated both excitement and controversy. Tonight marks its highly-anticipated premiere!
Lily-Rose Depp portrays Jocelyn, an emerging pop artist, while The Weeknd stars as Tedros, an imprisoned nightclub impresario. Depp demonstrates her acting prowess in the pilot episode, but some viewers may find the content intense. Even before airing on HBO or Max, The Idol faced accusations of being “sexist.”
The first episode of The Idol, titled “Pop Tarts & Rat Tales,” has generated significant discussion regarding its depiction of reality. Let’s delve into Levinson’s latest production to gain deeper insight.
Is Britney Spears the Inspiration Behind HBO’s The Idol?
Based on available information, it is evident that Sam Levinson, The Weeknd, and Reza Fahim collaborated on The Idol’s storyline. However, it seems unlikely that they did not draw inspiration from real-life experiences. Jocelyn’s character in The Idol heavily draws inspiration from Britney Spears. There have even been reports suggesting that they met with her in 2022 to discuss and brainstorm influences for The Idol.
In an interview with The New York Times (via Bustle), The Weeknd clarified that his series does not solely focus on Britney but acknowledges the collective influence of various pop stars like Madonna, Britney, and others who have faced obstacles in their careers.
Levinson pointed out to Bustle that Jocelyn’s journey in The Idol mirrors that of Spears. Their intention was not to focus on one specific musician but to examine society’s pressures on pop stars.
The Idol airs new episodes every Sunday night on HBO and Max, and its critical reception thus far has been mixed. Only time will tell whether its audience will continue to grow or if criticism will escalate accordingly.
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