Earlier this year, Netflix announced a new reality show called Building The Band. The unscripted music competition was to feature contestants who had to form a band without seeing each other, with Liam Payne serving as one of the mentors.
However, the show's fate is now uncertain after Payne’s unfortunate death. The singer passed away on October 16th after tragically falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was only 31.
Trending
Though the filming of Building The Band had wrapped up before Payne’s demise, Netflix is in a dilemma regarding its release, considering the grief and sensibilities of the late singer’s fans.
The future of Netflix’s Building The Band after Liam Payne's death
Building The Band could mark Liam Payne's last appearance in a television show. The shoot started during the summer and concluded by the end of August. With Payne’s demise, Netflix will reportedly reconsider its approach to the show.
The series is currently in the post-production stage. Netflix has not yet announced the premiere date for Building The Band, and it is probably too soon for the platform to decide on the future of the show, as fans around the world are still processing the loss of the beloved singer.
The producers of the music competition are as shocked by Payne’s untimely death as the rest of the world. As the singer’s admirers grieve his loss, Netflix will likely make some changes to the show, possibly including a tribute to the former One Direction member in the premiere episode.
There may also be a segment where the rest of the panelists and the host address the tragic event and commemorate their fellow mentor. For now, the makers of Building The Band are not making any hasty decisions about the fate of the series, and want to take their time while Payne’s family and fans deal with the loss.
Liam Payne was one of the three judges on Building The Band
In May 2024, Netflix confirmed Liam Payne as one of the judges on Building The Band, along with Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland. AJ McLean was announced as the host of the competition.
Produced by Remarkable Entertainment, the reality series features 50 singers who must form a band. The catch is that the contestants can not see each other and have to find their perfect bandmates based on musical compatibility and connection.
Payne had enough experience to be a panelist on the show as he was the winner of X-Factor in 2010, where he was chosen to be a part of One Direction, along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. The group was active until 2016 and became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time with songs like What Makes You Beautiful, One Thing, and Night Changes.
The other mentors in Building The Band also have their fair share of experiences in bands. Scherzinger is a former member of the girls' group The Pussycat Dolls, while Rowland was earlier a part of Destiny's Child. Meanwhile, AJ McLean continues to be a part of the best-selling boy band Backstreet Boys.
The series filmed three live shows at the Aviva Studios in Manchester, England. The concerts were held in the presence of an audience along with the panelists. The executive producers on the show include Alison Holloway, Cat Lawson, Clara Elliot, Katrina Morrison, and Simon Crossley.
Reply
