The Idol Season 2 - Will It Ever Happen?

After a tumultuous season rife with controversy and rumors, HBO confirmed that "The Idol" would not be returning for Season 2. That may not have been too surprising to those who watched it or saw how divisive it became online. Despite claims from people involved during the series' five-episode run that HBO was happy with the show, a renewal failed to materialize.

When the finale was finally released, the reviews were still mainly negative, with critics generally expressing relief that they no longer had to watch the show. In theory, a collaboration between Sam Levinson and The Weeknd seemed like a foolproof plan. For years, The Weeknd released pop music with a dark edge that fans eagerly embraced. Levinson, too, had been achieving juggernaut ratings with his show "Euphoria," a darker take on the overdone teen drama genre. A collaboration at the height of their powers appeared to be a fantastic idea.

However, what ultimately occurred was two artists who seemingly managed to magnify each other's artistic weaknesses. The show faced harsh criticism from all sides, dwindling ratings, outright mockery on social media, and ultimately, cancellation. Despite these setbacks, though, there remains a hypnotic allure to each episode of the show. Some fans may still hold out hope for positive news regarding the series, including a potential revival. So, let's delve into what went wrong and if "The Idol" Season 2 might still be able to happen down the line.

"The Idol" presents itself as a show about the dark underbelly of the contemporary music industry, including a lot of workplace harassment. Jocelyn and Tedros embark on a deeply problematic relationship, and it's certainly unsettling to see how their handlers romanticize it. However, some felt that the way the show was shot and written actually endorsed this behavior, rather than satirizing it.

This feeling was magnified by reports of a chaotic production that included a complete change in the director and extremely demanding reshoots. According to a report by Rolling Stone, some of the crew felt that the show's handling of Jocelyn and Tedros' relationship became callous after Sam Levinson took over from the original director, Amy Seimetz. This changeover resulted in major reshoots and rewrites. The remaining cast and crew didn't exactly dispute that Levinson's new approach to the material was shallower, but they still credited him for maintaining a respectful and safe set.

The Rolling Stone report alleges that Seimetz was ousted because The Weeknd was unhappy with her vision — one that focused more directly on Jocelyn and the cult storyline. All of this contributed to a season lacking focus, clarity, and positive publicity. But there are other reasons that likely contributed to "The Idol" Season 2 getting canceled.

While Sam Levinson is no stranger to controversy, there's no doubt that he has a steady fanbase that engages with his work. "Malcolm & Marie" shot to the top of the Netflix charts, and "Euphoria" is still one of the few shows in this era that can consistently draw an audience in the millions every week. Levinson's style may not be regal or refined, but he's a true auteur, and there's always an audience eager to dissect his work. Therefore, HBO might expect any new work of his to at least be a ratings juggernaut, regardless of the critical reception.

However, that was not the case with "The Idol." By the time the penultimate episode rolled around, the show was only attracting 133,000 viewers per episode, according to Vanity Fair. That's noteworthy considering that other Sunday night prestige HBO shows typically surpass the 200,000 viewer mark, including "Euphoria," which has routinely attracted as many as half a million viewers for a single episode. HBO was undoubtedly paying close attention to what the numbers were telling them.

While numbers aren't always the sole factor that networks like HBO consider when renewing a series, when both the reviews and the ratings are poor, it becomes a clear business decision to cancel.

Before the official cancelation came through, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who plays Destiny on "The Idol," spoke optimistically about the potential for a Season 2. Sam Levinson was impressed by Randolph's talent in one of 2020's best shows, "High Fidelity," and she didn't disappoint in her role. Levinson's undeniable talent has always been casting. He has transformed unknown actors into stars and facilitated perhaps the smoothest transition from child star to adult actor with Zendaya.

Therefore, it's no surprise that Levinson's most vocal supporters have often been his actors. Randolph is no different. She defended the finale to The Hollywood Reporter, saying that she viewed it as empowering for women. In a separate interview with Variety, which was conducted before the cancellation announcement, Randolph also added that a second season had always been the plan.

"I think that everyone's intention is to have a second season. This was never intended to be a limited series," Randolph said. "Nothing is official, but HBO is quite happy." That interview was published at the end of June 2023, and two months later, "The Idol" was officially canned. However, Randolph's words about the feelings of the studio leave the door potentially open for renewed interest later on.

There's a scene in "The Idol" where legendary music producer Mike Dean comes to Jocelyn's house at the request of Tedros. The scene has its comedic moments, and for fans who follow the intricacies of the music industry, Dean's cameo serves its purpose by grounding the show in reality. However, the cameo loses its impact as Dean ends up lingering in and around every scene long after his initial purpose in the show has been fulfilled. For a series that clearly aimed to be a darker version of "Entourage," they certainly missed the mark when it came to expertly handling cameos.

As it turns out, Levinson only cast him because Dean happened to be on the set producing the music for the show. In an attempt to experiment with a more improvisational approach, Levinson tended to spend precious screen time on characters who serve no other purpose than establishing the show's world. For a potential Season 2 of "The Idol," Levinson should instead turn the camera towards actors like Eli Roth, Dan Levy, and Jane Adams.

If Jocelyn truly runs a cult that involves everyone around her, including her tour manager, publicist, and label executive, as Xander claims, then it would best serve the show to not only bring them back but also provide them with more substantial material to work with. If Jocelyn is indeed the conniving manipulator "The Idol" suggests she is, fans need to witness that in action.

Multiple reports confirm significant changes leading up to the final version of "The Idol" that viewers eventually saw. The reasons behind these changes are still debated. Some rumors suggest that The Weeknd's egotistical presence on set shifted the series away from the original feminine perspective. Others claim the original crew didn't focus on Jocelyn and Tedros' relationship as closely as The Weeknd and Sam Levinson wanted.

What truly happened with the end product, however, was a show that attempted to incorporate both of these elements in a short five-episode run. One of the main weaknesses this exposed was The Weeknd's performance as the pathetic has-been cult leader. Tesfaye clearly struggled to shed his real-life persona, ultimately leading some fans to confuse the intended satire with endorsement.

In a promotional interview in W Magazine, Tesfaye discussed immersing himself in the Tedros role, even experiencing an identity crisis. He sought to shed his popstar persona in "The Idol" but still drew inspiration from his experiences as The Weeknd, resulting in a muddled message in the show's conclusion. All this production turmoil and the mixed results likely didn't sit well with HBO, especially as some fans now prioritize seeing Amy Seimetz's original cut over anticipating a Season 2.