Sophia Michaels
In July 2022, HBO announced that Blackpink’s Jennie had been cast in The Idol,” an upcoming series about a rising pop star (Lily-Rose Depp) and her complicated relationship with a nightclub cult leader (The Weeknd). She confirmed her role in a statement to the South Korean website Yonhap, saying she’s thrilled about landing her first acting gig. “I found the script very intriguing, so I wanted to be part of the series,” she said. “I feel very excited.” While details of her character are still unknown, the “Pink Venom” singer has appeared in teaser trailers released for the six-part series, which will air on HBO starting June 4.
Chatting with Elle, Jennie said co-creator Sam Levinson convinced her to do the show. “I’ve been a fan of all his work,” she said of the screenwriter, who is famous for his work on the Emmy-winning drama “Euphoria.” She credited Levinson and The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) with helping her prepare for her debut role, saying, “I had many conversations with Sam and Abel … and they just made sure that I didn’t have to be so nervous about things.” The Korean superstar also discussed her experience working with Depp. “I’ve learned a lot from Lily while I was shooting, too,” Jennie said. “So I’m going to say yes, I loved it. I loved my experience so far.”
