The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” was named the new No.1 song on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All Time Hot 100 Chart after spending 90 weeks on the Hot 100 chart. It spent four weeks at No.1, 43 weeks in the top five, 57 weeks in the top 10, and 86 weeks in the top 40.
“Blinding Lights” was the second single from The Weeknd’s highly-acclaimed fourth studio album After Hours, which was released in March 2020. A critical and commercial triumph, The song peaked at No. 1 in more than 30 countries across the globe, fuelled a viral TikTok dance challenge, and shattered records for the most weeks in both the top 10 and top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. Overall, the track delivered 2.72 billion subscription stream equivalents globally.
Earlier this week (November 22), HBO officially ordered The Weeknd’s drama series The Idol, Variety reported earlier today. It was also announced that Troye Sivan would be featured in the show.
The Weeknd will star in the six-episode series, which was first announced as being in development in June, as well as serving as the co-creator. Set against the backdrop of the music industry, the series centers on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult, who develops a complicated relationship with an up-and-coming pop idol.
Along with The Weeknd it was previously announced that Lily-Rose Depp would star in the series. Amy Seimetz is also now onboard to direct all six episodes. Variety also learned that eight more actors have been added to the cast.
Suzanna Son, Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Steve Zissis, the aforementioned Troye Sivan, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, Nico Hiraga, and Anne Heche have all been cast in the series. Son, Zissis, and Sivan will all appear in series regular roles while the other five are recurring.
The Weeknd will server as co-writer and executive producer along with Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson, with all three credited as creators of the show. Joe Epstein will also write and executive produce in addition to serving as showrunner. Seimetz will executive produce as well as direct. Levinson will executive produce via Little Lamb along with Ashley Levinson and Kevin Turen. Aaron L. Gilbert will executive produce via Bron Studios. Nick Hall and Sara E. White will executive produce along with A24.
Listen to the best of The Weeknd on Apple Music and Spotify.