Despite trailers highlighting similarities between the two shows, The Idol cannot just be a copy of Euphoria. The Idol, co-created by The Weeknd, Reza Fahim, and Sam Levinson, looks to be a kindred spirit of Levinson’s other HBO show, Euphoria, with its indulgent yet stylish depictions of sex, drugs, and rock & roll. The trailer for The Idol does not shy away from comparisons, proudly stating in bold, red text that it’s “from the creator of Euphoria” – yet it must also go beyond these surface comparisons.
The Idol will mark the television debuts of both of its lead actors: “Blinding Lights” singer Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Voyagers star Lily Rose-Depp. It looks like The Idol will be another surefire HBO hit, despite numerous production issues causing the original director, She Dies Tomorrow‘s Amy Seimetz, to be replaced by Sam Levinson. The show also underwent significant reshoots, despite several episodes having been previously completed, in order to comply with the re-tooling of The Idol to focus more on The Weeknd’s character. Not a lot is known about the plot of The Idol yet, except that it concerns a pop star’s complicated relationship with cult leader, Tedros.
The Idol takes a similar approach to its cast as Euphoria, with a steady supply of Gen Z idols and pop stars peppered throughout its call sheets, such as singer Troye Sivan and Barbie star Hari Nef. Tonally and stylistically, The Idol also seems to have taken significant notes from Euphoria, with its dark yet somewhat comedic mood, and its use of saturated colors and striking, stylized lighting in its cinematography. Despite its almost indistinguishable aesthetic from Euphoria, The Idol cannot just be a cheap copy of the former show due to its completely different story. If it fails to tell a sufficiently different story, The Idol could understandably be accused of retreading the same ground, and could feel stale as a result. Additionally, it’s new narrative elements mean that sticking to Euphoria’s blueprint would undermine what could be a compelling original story.
The Idol Is Too Different From Euphoria To Just Be A Copy
The Idol seemingly makes its biggest left turn away from Euphoria in its story. Whereas Euphoria focuses on teenage drama and drug use, The Idol‘s trailer seems to promise a reflection on celebrity culture and stardom in Hollywood. Although Euphoria has previously dealt with dark topics, such as Rue’s drug overdoses and her debt to a dangerous drug dealer in the second season, The Idol’s focus on a Hollywood cult represents a shift in Sam Levinson’s career away from telling stories focusing on teenagers. Euphoria itself also seems to be moving away from high school, with a promised time skip to take place before the upcoming third season.
The majority of Sam Levinson’s previous work, including Euphoria and his 2018 film Assassination Nation, focused on teenagers grappling with problems relevant to their surroundings, such as drugs and social media. The Idol, instead, seems to be continuing the precedent set by 2021’s Malcolm & Marie by focusing on Hollywood satire instead of Levinson’s typical coming-of-age drama. Although The Idol looks to be incredibly similar to Euphoria in terms of aesthetics and its gratuitous depictions of sex and drug use, the story looks to be a completely different beast to Euphoria, and therefore will not be a simple copy of Sam Levinson’s previous show.
