Billie Eilish just made her surprise acting debut with a previously unannounced role in the wildly captivating Prime Video series, Swarm, from co-creators Donald Glover and showrunner Janine Nabers.
The singer, who appears in episode four, is just one of many unexpected supporting players who cross paths with Dominique Fishback.
Now streaming, the series follows a young woman named Dre (Fishback) whose obsession with one of the world's biggest pop stars as well as an unexpected trauma involving her sister, Marissa (Chloe Bailey), sets her on a dark journey across the country.
As Dre continues on her increasingly violent path, she encounters characters played by Damson Idris (Marissa's boyfriend, Khalid) as well as Bryron Bowers, Kiersey Clemons, Paris Jackson, internet personality Rickey Thompson, Rory Culkin and American Auto breakout X Mayo.
That also includes Eilish, who plays Eva, a cult leader to white women played by the likes of Kate Lyn Sheil (House of Cards, The Idol) and others, who've all gathered together to attend the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, which is being headlined by Ni'Jah.
Without giving too much away, Eva's encounter with Dre leads to a clashing of personalities before ending with bloody results.
While Eilish has appeared in several music documentaries and has voiced a version of herself for the Simpsons' short film, When Billie Met Lisa, Swarm marks the first time the singer is appearing in a fully scripted role.
The idea to add her to the ensemble came from casting director Carmen Cuba, who knew that the singer wanted to get into acting. For Glover, casting Eilish, especially in addition to Bailey and Jackson, also provided an opportunity to play up the meta-commentary about fandoms and followers.
When asked what Swarm might be saying about these stans, like the Beyhive, given the show's parallels to Beyoncé, Nabers told ET, "I think you can intellectualize it and say that it's a critique of fandom, of course."
"I created it with someone who is a music superstar, and I've seen people take ownership of him in real time, in real life, in front of my face. I think when you step outside, and you look at the story, is it a critique? Sure," she continued, referring to Glover, who has his own successful musical career in addition to producing and starring in TV projects like Atlanta.
Latest Stories
-
Earth Day: CCCFS promotes adoption of ceramics to fight plastic pollution
8 mins -
Ten dead as navy helicopters collide mid-air in Malaysia
47 mins -
Kwadaso Onion Market: Traders relocated over security concerns
55 mins -
Organise your dumsor demo, we’ll choose who to partner for ours – Franklin Cudjoe tells Yvonne Nelson
59 mins -
Government to consolidate cash waterfall revenue collection accounts
1 hour -
‘Otumfuor is one of Kotoko’s biggest issues’ – Nana Agyemang
1 hour -
Bawumia travels to Italy and Vatican State
1 hour -
Bellingham wins Laureus Breakthrough award
2 hours -
2024 polls: Haruna Iddrisu predicts NDC victory in all 11 Upper West parliamentary seats
2 hours -
GPL: Berekum Chelsea beat Medeama to go fifth
2 hours -
Debt Restructuring: Government to reach agreement with IPPs in May
2 hours -
It’s time for Ghana to move from NPP and NDC – Abu Sakara insists
2 hours -
NCCE launches 2024 Annual Constitution Week in Kumasi
2 hours -
Dumsor: Yvonne Nelson criticises Akufo-Addo for taking Ghanaians for granted, proposes another vigil
3 hours -
GFA appoints Zito, Preko and Amadu to take charge of newly-formed male national teams
3 hours