Netflix's upcoming talent show, Building The Band, which features the late Liam Payne as a judge, will be released on the streaming service this summer. Filming of the show wrapped before Liam's tragic death last October, raising questions about the show's future.
Netflix's Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria has now confirmed when viewers can expect the series to premiere. Liam will feature posthumously, alongside Destiny's Child icon Kelly Rowland and pop superstar Nicole Scherzinger. "People will be obsessed with Building the Band coming this summer, hosted by AJ McLean," said Bajaria. “Contestants will be judged and mentored by Nicole Scherzinger, with Kelly Rowland and the late Liam Payne.”
The unique twist of the show draws a parallel to Netflix’s successful Love Is Blind series – band members won't see each other until their group is formed, putting a focus on pure musical chemistry.
Viewers are promised "plenty of drama, next-level artistry, and unforgettable performances", with the show having a dramatic backdrop; the final filming stages occurred at Manchester's Aviva Studios in late August.
Just two months later, Liam tragically died as he fell from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, reports the Mirror.
Liam first gained recognition in 2010 after auditioning for the X Factor as a solo artist. Although he didn't progress beyond the bootcamp round, judges Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger recognised his potential, along with Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles.
Despite being strangers before the show, the five-piece group excelled, reaching the live finals and finishing in third place. However, this wasn't the end of their journey, as One Direction went on to achieve global stardom.
In 2015, Zayn shocked fans by announcing his departure from the band, and less than a year later, the group revealed they would be taking an extended break.
Following the tragic loss of Liam, the band released a joint statement expressing their devastation: "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing.
"In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.
"For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam."
