Controversial series The Idol starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd won’t return for Season 2

The salacious drama that made headlines for its provocative storylines and explicit nudity won’t be returning to screens, HBO confirms.

Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd star in The Idol

Controversial HBO series The Idol won’t be back for a second season.

The salacious drama – which streams locally on BINGE – made headlines for its provocative storylines and explicit nudity featuring stars Lily-Rose Depp and Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd.

A spokeperson for HBO made the announcement this morning, saying that although the studio was “pleased by the strong audience response”, they will not be commissioning season 2.

“After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season,” read the statement, as obtained by Page Six.

“We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work.”

Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd star in The Idol. Picture: Binge

The Idol revolved around Depp’s character Jocelyn, a fallen pop star whose comeback is derailed when she embarks on a relationship with nightclub owner Tedros (The Weeknd), who turns out to be a cult leader.

The Weeknd co-created the series along with Euphoria director Sam Levinson, who was accused of flipping the show from a female perspective to a sordid male fantasy following the departure of original director Amy Seimetz.

Stream The Idol Season 1 on BINGE. New BINGE customers get a 14-day free trial. Sign up at binge.com.au

Depp filmed provocative scenes in character as Jocelyn. Picture: Binge

The Weeknd plays a cult leader in the series. Picture: Binge

Since the changing of the guard, the series garnered headlines even before it aired with a Rolling Stone article about the show’s production leading the way.

In the article, anonymous crew members came forward with concerns the series has become “torture porn” and “rape fantasy”.

The staffers also claimed that the working environment was poor given the last-minute script changes and rewrites, and the pilot episode was even scrapped and reshot altogether.

Once the series premiered in June, British GQ claimed that the show contained “the worst sex scene in history”.

“It’s male fantasy in its purest form, made by men who think they know how to tell complex stories because they can light a nipple artfully,” the article read.

Abel Tesfaye, Lily-Rose Depp and Sam Levinson attend The Idol screening at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Picture: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Despite the backlash, Depp stood by the series and praised Levinson for his direction.

“Sam is, for so many reasons, the best director I have ever worked with,” she wrote in a statement to E! Newsin March.

“Never have I felt more supported or respected in a creative space, my input and opinions more valued. Working with Sam is a true collaboration in every way – it matters to him, more than anything, not only what his actors think about the work, but how we feel performing it.”

The Idol Season 1 is now streaming on BINGE

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Originally published as Controversial series The Idol starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd won’t return for Season 2