Idol, the new series led by Lily-Rose Depp alongside a creative team that includes the Weeknd and Sam Levinson, is slated to appear at the Cannes Film Festival in an out-of-competition slot. The announcement circulated through people familiar with the production and a major industry wire, signaling a high-profile festival appearance for a project that has already sparked intense curiosity among fans and media alike.
The Cannes presence is scheduled to unfold during the festival window from May 16 to May 27, with questions lingering about which episodes will be showcased. The six-episode arc has viewers wondering whether the festival lineup will feature the first two episodes, or perhaps the first three, as the creators weigh whether the narrative benefits from an early reveal of the third installment, a segment that carries pivotal plot developments.
HBO Max, the platform behind Idol, has not publicly confirmed the Cannes invitation. Industry reports indicate that The Weeknd has long aspired to secure a Cannes showcase for the series, signaling a strategic push to align the show with a festival that often elevates music-driven dramas into a broader cultural conversation.
Industry coverage notes that Cannes is also hosting other high-profile projects out of competition, including a mammoth drama from Jane Campion and David Lynch that continues to attract attention for its unique approach to film festival programming. While Idol and its two-showrunners have limited Cannes experience, anticipation remains high that the festival could serve as a crucial platform for expanding the series’ international audience.
Idol was crafted by a collaboration among The Weeknd, Sam Levinson, and Reza Fahim, weaving a story about a young pop icon who enters a world structured around a mysterious nightclub owner and a cloaked cult network in Los Angeles. The premise promises a blend of music industry glamour, psychological tension, and nocturnal undercurrents that align with the creators’ broader artistic aims.
Earlier information had suggested that Idol would reach theaters in June 2023, underscoring the project’s multi-platform strategy and the ongoing effort to position it as a defining contemporary drama at the intersection of music, fashion, and nightlife culture.