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Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributorsThe fate of Building The Band, a new Netflix competition show — in which singers competed “for a role in a band, [but] never saw one another until they performed in front of a live audience,” per the show’s logline —was uncertain after judge Liam Payne’s shocking death in October 2024. But now, the streaming giant has announced that it will move forward with the project.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix had never publicly said that they would not continue which the project, which also stars former pop band members Nicole Scherzinger (The Pussycat Dolls), Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child) as judges and AJ Mclean (The Backstreet Boys) as host. The series was shot in summer of 2024, before Payne fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. He was 31 years old.
Singer Liam Payne attends the World Premiere of “I Am Bolt” at Odeon Leicester Square on November 28, 2016 in London, England.
Singer Liam Payne attends the World Premiere of “I Am Bolt” at Odeon Leicester Square on November 28, 2016 in London, England.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
The outlet also confirmed that Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vice president of nonfiction series and sports, told viewers at a special presentation in Los Angeles that Netflix was having “ongoing conversations with Payne’s family” about how to handle his portrayal in the series, and that “more would be said in the near future.”Fans of the late One Direction member reacted to the announcement on X (formerly known as Twitter.) One user wrote, “Liam as judge in @netflix talent show “Building the Band” will appear on Netflix somewhere in 2025. It was one of his last projects he worked on before he died. I really hope they’ll wait as long as possible, I’m not ready for this yet.”Some fans felt that although it would be emotional to watch this series, it would be a good opportunity to “see” the singer again. One wrote, “i hoped they would go ahead with it. he deserved to have this out. but i hope people take it easy on him being it was his last project.”i hoped they would go ahead with it. he deserved to have this out. but i hope people take it easy on him being it was his last project.— 🌹Amanda🗡4EverStyles (@Confused_1DFan) January 30, 2025
Other fans said that despite the complexity added by the star’s passing, they were simply interested in the concept of the show. “Maybe it’s better to release it later in the year, but it definitely needs to be released. I need this show no matter when it is, sorry,” wrote one X user.
