Everything you need to know about The Idol
In The Idol, we meet Jocelyn, a pop star megastar who’s struggling to break out into a more adult sound.
After being forced to cancel her last tour due to a nervous breakdown after the death of her mother, Jocelyn is determined to make her comeback with a bang – embracing controversy and amping up her sexualised songs.
In the run-up to her new release and tour, she is introduced to the mysterious Tedros on a night out. A nightclub owner with a string of devout followers, Jocelyn is curious about his magnetic nature.
As their connection gets passionate and he becomes a more intrinsic role in her life, Jocelyn is given a new lease of life, as Tedros and his cult-like friendship group slowly begin to take over the trajectory of her career.
Soon, his true motives and his shady past come into question from those around her, particularly her record label team.
Is there more to this story that can be seen? And will she finally achieve the album success she’s always dreamed of?
Released in June 2023, The Idol is comprised of five episodes.
It is created by Euphoria’s Sam Levison, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Reza Fahim.
Watch the trailer for The Idol
Who is in the cast of The Idol?
The key cast members of The Idol are:
Lily-Rose Depp (The King, Nosferatu) as Jocelyn
Abel Tesfaye (best known as musician The Weeknd) as Tedros
Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby, Bottoms) as Leia
Troye Sivan (Boy Erased, Three Months) as Xander
Suzanna Son (Red Rocket, Fear Street: Prom Queen) as Chloe
Moses Sumney (Creed, MaXXXine) as Izaak
Jane Adams (Hacks, Messiah) as Nikki Katz
Newcomer Jennie Ruby Jane/Jennie Kim as Dyanne
Hari Nef (Barbie, Assassination Nation) as Talia Hirsch
Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers, Only Murders in the Building) as Destiny
Hank Azaria (The Birdcage, Brockmire) as Chaim
Will there be a second season of The Idol?
No. It was confirmed in August 2023 that The Idol would not be returning for second season.
The story was not left on a cliffhanger, with the show being considered one complete story.
What is the age rating of The Idol?
The official rating of The Idol in the UK, as certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is 18.
This means the show has been deemed suitable for adults only, and should not be viewed by children.
Reasons for this rating is due to the show containing:
Graphic depictions of sex and sexual acts
Frequent depictions of nudity and hypersexualisation of women
Erotic imagery including some that may be deemed pornographic
Discussions of abuse including implied child abuse
Moderate depictions of violence, including sexual violence
Prominent use of strong language
Depictions of drug abuse including cocaine and cannabis
How to watch the The Idol on Sky
The Idol is available now in full on Sky Atlantic and to stream on NOW.
Will I still be able to watch The Idol on Sky with HBO Max launching?
Yes!
If you’re already a Sky subscriber, you will get complete continuity of the service at no extra cost via the Max app. The new deal means Sky and NOW customers benefit from more content through bundled access to the streaming service that will exclusively feature new HBO Original and Max Original shows and more.
And in the case of The Idol and a range of other series, as part of Sky’s new deal with HBO, customers will continue to find shows such as House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us, and any new series aired before the end of 2025, on Sky Atlantic and through Sky’s On Demand service.
Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer of Sky, said: “What’s really good about the deal that we struck is that if you’re a Sky subscriber, at no additional cost, you will have access to the Max app within your Sky platform. So if you’re already a Sky subscriber, you have complete continuity of service. Actually, you probably have more because Max will have more content than what we have today with the HBO shows and the Warner Bros. films.
“It’s going to be completely seamless for those customers, so you’ll have a really rich experience, and that’s at no additional cost.
“Any show that we’ve had historically on our channels you’ll continue to get on the channels, including future seasons of The Last of Us and The White Lotus.”
And what about NOW TV?
In addition, NOW UK and Ireland Entertainment members will also receive bundled access to the ad-supported version of Max, seamlessly integrated into the NOW experience alongside other premium content. They will also continue to get the existing series which were available on Sky as part of their subscription.
