Same direction? Simon Cowell’s new boyband are the spitting image of his former proteges One Direction

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Simon Cowell is back to searching for musical talent with his latest show, The Next Act. He’s looking for a new boyband, hoping to find a group as popular as One Direction.

One Direction was created on the reality show The X Factor in 2010, but they went on break in 2015. Sadly, with the passing of Liam Payne last October, a reunion now appears very unlikely.

When The X Factor went on hold in 2015, Simon Cowell’s chance to discover the next successful music group was also put on pause.

After a decade, he’s returned with a six-part Netflix documentary series that chronicles the journey of male singers – from the initial auditions to the release of the group’s first song.

But the new band bears a striking resemblance to the music mogul’s former proteges.

Four members of the seven-person boyband strongly resemble One Direction’s Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan.

Photos from the London premiere of the Netflix show on Tuesday offered a first look at what seems to be the final group lineup.

Nicolas Alves, a contestant on the show, bears a striking resemblance to Harry Styles, especially with his similarly long brown hair.

Josh Olliver bears a striking resemblance to Louis Tomlinson, and Sean Hayden looks a lot like Irish singer Niall Horan.

Danny Bretherton, who was on The Voice Kids two years prior to trying out for The Next Act, bears a striking resemblance to Zayn.

Simon faced a real challenge with the energetic and competitive group shown in the latest trailer. They’re seen playfully fighting and disagreeing as they go through tough band auditions. Ultimately, the top 16 hopefuls will travel to Miami.

Simon compared the process to ‘mining for diamonds’.

Simon stated before shooting began that he’s only interested in working with fresh faces for his new project, even though Daniel had previously appeared on a different show.

A judge on Britain’s Got Talent is worried the UK isn’t discovering enough exciting new talent. They believe record labels aren’t signing enough fresh artists, and that these artists are struggling to stand out due to intense competition online.

Simon Cowell, famous for launching the careers of One Direction and Westlife, believes record labels aren’t currently discovering and signing enough new artists. He shared this opinion with the Daily Mail, stating a need for more investment in up-and-coming talent.

Recently, far fewer UK artists are achieving international success, and I believe this is due to the intense competition online. In the past, record labels would actively discover new talent, but now artists need to proactively promote themselves. That’s the approach we’re taking.

Even though I enjoy my current TV work, I really miss the early days of discovering and working with musicians,” Simon explains in the trailer. “There’s a huge potential out there, and I’m determined to create the next big boy band.

I’m on the edge of my seat! He keeps saying there’s a massive risk, and honestly, if this doesn’t work out, everyone will be saying Simon Cowell has completely lost his touch. It’s all on the line, and I’m so invested in seeing if it pays off!

With an estimated net worth of £475 million, Simon is well-known for discovering new performers. He’s been a judge on numerous popular music and talent reality shows since 2001, including Pop Idol, American Idol, Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent, and The X Factor.

For 14 years, The X Factor had a huge impact on British music, launching the careers of major artists like One Direction, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, JLS, and Olly Murs.

With fewer people watching and reports of past contestants being mistreated, ITV announced in 2021 that the show wouldn’t be returning for another season.

Simon is aiming to repeat his past successes with artists who have achieved record-breaking sales and sold millions of albums around the globe.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m hearing a lot of buzz about a big comeback! Apparently, Simon’s go-to songwriter truly believes the UK still has a huge soft spot for boybands, and they’re both really focused on getting back to the top of the charts – they’re aiming to dominate, honestly!

Savan Kotecha, 47, is appearing alongside the former X Factor boss on the docuseries.

Ever since One Direction broke up, it’s been surprisingly difficult to find British boybands topping the music charts.

K-pop groups from South Korea have been the most successful boybands lately, but Simon Cowell thinks boybands will become popular again in the UK and attract a new wave of young fans.

Simon is enthusiastic about starting a new boyband, and Savan believes his decision to return to talent shows is driven by a love for the music, not financial gain.

She explained that he isn’t motivated by money or fame, but by his genuine passion for the work. She pointed out that there are simpler, more reliable ways to earn a living in the entertainment industry, describing it as a bit of a gamble. Ultimately, she believes he’s driven by his love for pop music, something he’s shared with her in their conversations.

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2025-12-10 16:04