The Idol, touted as the new Euphoria, is finally making its TV premiere for audiences today. Created by Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson himself, along with his partners in crime, The Weeknd and Reza Fahim, one of the main appeals of the show is definitely its headlining cast members. Cue Gen Z fan favourites, Lily-Rose Depp, Blackpink’s Jennie Kim, Troye Sivan and The Weeknd himself. But that’s not the only show this year where you’ll be served with plenty of Gen Z stars. Ahead, we’ve rounded up a neat selection of TV shows and movies starring the new generation of screen icons for your next screen binge.
As its title suggests, this new HBO drama series is all about idol life. Or should we say, the dark side of idol life. After suffering a nervous breakdown that resulted in the cancellation of her tour, pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) meets the mysterious self-help guru and cult leader Tefros (The Weeknd) and begins a complex relationship with him. If this isn’t enough to get you intrigued, the show has managed to attract quite the buzz – not just for its casting of Blackpink’s Jennie. Among the controversy surrounding the show are allegations of a toxic work environment, multiple rewrites and the show being a premise for “torture porn” – even before its official release. With the show receiving a low 25 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, dare we say, we’re even more intrigued to see for ourselves what’s the real tea with this show.
Never have I ever…. wanted a TV series to go on forever! Alas, we’re approaching the final season of Mindy Kaling’s hit Netflix series that’s loosely based on her experiences growing up in Brooklyn. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is endearing as the show’s lead in this huge step for more South Asian representation in Hollywood. And don’t get us started on the multiple and sometimes chaotic subplots — relatable and really sort of mirrors our chaotic state of mind for any Gen Zer.
The fourth and final season of Never Have I Ever premieres on Netflix June 8
Stephanie Hsu headlines this Asian-American comedy about a business trip to Asia gone sideways. After her showstopping performance in Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, we’re stoked to see what else she delivers next. Of course, she’s not alone — she’s joined by Ashley Park, who you might remember as Mindy from Emily in Paris, another cult fave, and emerging talents Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu. We have no doubt that this film is going to live up to its title.
Joy Ride opens in theatres July 7
The wait for Greta Gerwig’s newest film is almost over. The lineup of Barbies and Kens — Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Dua Lipa, Emma Mackey and more — is probably the most impressive ensemble we’ve seen this year. And if the trailer and teaser images are telling us anything about this movie, it’s that the wardrobe is gonna be popularising that Barbie-core trend, even more, this year.
Barbie opens in theatres July 20
Christopher Nolan is back with a bang. Oppenheimer, his upcoming biopic thriller, starts Cillian Murphy of Peaky Blinders’ fame as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” Joining him is Hollywood darling and recent Valentino face Florence Pugh.. Here’s something else for older Gen Zers: the Josh Peck from Drake & Josh also makes an appearance in the film. Check him out in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in the trailer.
Oppenheimer opens in theatres July 20
You’d be happy to learn that Season 2 of coming-of-age rom-com drama Heartstopper is dropping in August. Nick and Charlie’s story melted — or stopped — our hearts in the first season in 2022, and catapulted actors Kit Connor and Joe Locke to near-instant fame on social media. The first season ended with the boys making their relationship official – so we just can’t wait to find out what sort of adventures await the pair in the second season.
Season 2 of Heartstopper premieres on Netflix on August 3
In this prequel set 64 years before the events of the original movie, released in 2012, we follow Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a songstress who is also District 12’s tribute to the Games, and Coryo Snow (Tom Blyth), her mentor and future tyrannical president of Panem. Zegler’s already displayed her mad singing and acting chops in West Side Story, so we’re sure she’ll steal the show in this film. Did we mention that Euphoria star Hunter Schafer is also an important cast member?
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes opens in theatres Nov 17
If you’ve followed the show, you know that Otis, Maeve, and just about every other character has gone through some intense stuff on this show. In fact, the end of Season 3 sees beloved Moordale Secondary being shut down. With some confirmed character departures — Ola, Lily and Moordale teacher Emily — the fourth season will definitely carry a different tone. That said, with the interesting addition of Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy, we just know this season, supposedly the show’s last, will be another amazing one.
Season 4 of Sex Education is scheduled to premiere on Netflix this Fall
Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) joins Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen for more desert adventures, as he seeks vengeance against those who had destroyed his family. Also joining the cast are Florence Pugh and Austin Butler. These young Hollywood idols have been riding their highs in recent years, with successful films coming out one after another – so expect much fanfare when the promo tour starts rolling in.
Dune Part 2 opens in theatres Nov 2
This upcoming spy thriller film is probably the most mysterious project on this list — it’s based on a yet-to-be-released novel by first-time author, Elly Conway. Before Barbie, Argylle was slated to be Dua Lipa’s acting debut, though the latter has since undergone some production challenges. While plot details are still thin, the film is still scheduled to be released this year. If it’s any consolation, Dua is rocking that blonde look in this teaser image.
The release date for Argylle has yet to be announced
You’ve just seen her as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Halle Bailey will be back on the silver screen in the later part of the year as the young Nettie Harris in The Color Purple, a musical coming-of-age film based on Alice Walker’s book of the same name. R&B songstresses H.E.R and Clara will also lend their voices and acting chops to the production, in what we’re sure will be a moving film on the struggles of being black in the 1900s.
The Color Purple opens in theatres Dec 25