# Paradise City (2021 TV series)
**Paradise City** is an American music drama television series created by Ash Avildsen for Amazon Prime Video, serving as a spin-off and sequel to his 2017 film *[American Satan](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-satan)*. It premiered on March 25, 2021, and ran for one season of eight episodes.[1](https://loudwire.com/paradise-city-show-release-date-full-trailer/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4302062/releaseinfo/) • [3](https://popculturefiles.com/episode-guides/paradise-city-episode-guide-5768)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Spin-off of the 2017 film *American Satan*, following the fictional rock band the Relentless[1](https://loudwire.com/paradise-city-show-release-date-full-trailer/) |
| Creator | Ash Avildsen, founder of Sumerian Records and Sumerian Films, who also wrote and directed[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/paradise-city-found) |
| Premiere | March 25, 2021, on Amazon Prime Video[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4302062/releaseinfo/) |
| Format | One season, 8 episodes, about 38 minutes each, rated TV-MA[3](https://popculturefiles.com/episode-guides/paradise-city-episode-guide-5768) • [5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/paradise-city) |
| Lead cast | Andy Biersack as Johnny Faust, with Bella Thorne, Drea de Matteo, Booboo Stewart, Fairuza Balk, and Ben Bruce[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/paradise-city) |
| Cameron Boyce | Plays Simon Ostergaard in his final role; he died in July 2019 at age 20 from epilepsy complications[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/paradise-city-found) |
| Status | Ended after one season[3](https://popculturefiles.com/episode-guides/paradise-city-episode-guide-5768) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The series continues the story of the Relentless, the band from *American Satan*, now an established act whose members navigate the music industry while carrying ties to the occult. According to the synopsis, the band's road is one that crosses with that of a young aspiring musician from the east coast, a newcomer who worships the group and strives to break into the music world as a long-shot; meanwhile, the singers' troubling hidden past, together with a youthful groupie, shows up at his door, all while the ensemble and their staff struggle to hold on to their west coast family dynamic amid turmoil in the industry.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/paradise-city) Rotten Tomatoes summarizes the collision between a rock star with ties to the occult and a young rookie who idolizes him, through their broken homes built by the music business.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/paradise_city)
Avildsen described the shift in tone from the film: *American Satan* was, in his words, a classic good versus evil cautionary tale, while *Paradise City* is a human story about unorthodox families, written to prompt what-would-you-do discussion rather than simple moral answers.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/paradise-city-found)
## Cast
[Andy Biersack](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-biersack), frontman of the band [Black Veil Brides](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-veil-brides), reprises his *American Satan* role as the Relentless lead singer Johnny Faust.[7](https://www.laweekly.com/andy-biersack-talks-amazons-devilish-l-a-rock-drama-paradise-city-qa/) Ben Bruce of Asking Alexandria also returns as Leo Donovan.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/paradise-city) The cast mixes actors and working musicians: [Bella Thorne](https://www.edgepedia.org/bella-thorne) plays Lily Mayflower, Drea de Matteo plays Maya, Booboo Stewart plays Vic Lakota, Rhys Coiro plays Adam, Fairuza Balk plays Lizzie Thomas, Perrey Reeves plays Natalie, and Brooke Lyons plays Capricorn.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/paradise-city) Mark Boone Junior appears as Elias.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/paradise_city)
**Cameron Boyce's final role.** The series features [Cameron Boyce](https://www.edgepedia.org/cameron-boyce) as Simon Ostergaard, a character close to Avildsen's own biography: like the young Avildsen, Simon is in a band, works as a concert promoter and booking agent, and is the son of a single mother and a famous father who has no role in his life. Boyce died in July 2019 at age 20 from epilepsy complications, making the series his final work.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/paradise-city-found)
## Production and background
Ash Avildsen, son of Academy Award-winning director John Avildsen (*Rocky*, *The Karate Kid*), developed the series through his companies [Sumerian Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/sumerian-records) and Sumerian Films. He approached Biersack in the summer of 2015 about the lead role in *American Satan*, and the film's 2017 release was followed by work on the series continuation.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/paradise-city-found) • [7](https://www.laweekly.com/andy-biersack-talks-amazons-devilish-l-a-rock-drama-paradise-city-qa/) • [8](https://www.altpress.com/andy-biersack-ben-bruce-american-satan-paradise-city-interview) An announcement in April 2019 had targeted a first season later that year; the show ultimately premiered in March 2021.[9](https://shop.altpress.com/blogs/news/paradise-city-andy-black-american-satan) • [1](https://loudwire.com/paradise-city-show-release-date-full-trailer/)
The show deliberately casts real-life musicians alongside actors, including performers from bands such as Slipknot and [Lamb of God](https://www.edgepedia.org/lamb-of-god). Avildsen has said this reflects his belief in the viability of rock music in the modern era.[7](https://www.laweekly.com/andy-biersack-talks-amazons-devilish-l-a-rock-drama-paradise-city-qa/) • [10](https://shop.altpress.com/blogs/news/andy-biersack-ben-bruce-american-satan-paradise-city-interview)
[Isabella Summers](https://www.edgepedia.org/isabella-summers) composed the score, and a soundtrack album, *Paradise City: Season One*, was released digitally on July 23, 2021.[11](https://filmmusic.com/tv/paradise-city/)
## Removal over a copyright claim
Five days after the premiere, on March 30, 2021, all eight episodes were temporarily removed from Amazon Prime Video after a copyright claim filed by the band the Doors. The series returned to streaming after the issue was resolved, and the creator explained the situation to *Entertainment Weekly*.[12](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/paradise-city-creator-explains-series-181545443.html)
## Reception
Audience measures have been mixed. The series holds a 6.5/10 rating on IMDb from about 2,500 user ratings, while [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) users give it 38 percent.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/paradise-city) Rotten Tomatoes lists an average Tomatometer of 96 percent for the series.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/paradise_city) No second season was produced, and the series is listed as ended.[3](https://popculturefiles.com/episode-guides/paradise-city-episode-guide-5768)
## References
1. [Rock Star-Studded 'Paradise City' Show Gets Release Date + Full Trailer, Loudwire (December 10, 2020)](https://loudwire.com/paradise-city-show-release-date-full-trailer/)
2. [Paradise City (TV Series 2021) - Release info, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4302062/releaseinfo/)
3. [Paradise City Episode Guide, Pop Culture Files](https://popculturefiles.com/episode-guides/paradise-city-episode-guide-5768)
4. [Paradise City Found, Television Academy Online Originals (September 9, 2020)](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/paradise-city-found)
5. [Paradise City - streaming tv show online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/paradise-city)
6. [Paradise City, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/paradise_city)
7. [Andy Biersack Talks Amazon's Devilish L.A. Rock Drama, Paradise City (Q&A), LA Weekly](https://www.laweekly.com/andy-biersack-talks-amazons-devilish-l-a-rock-drama-paradise-city-qa/)
8. [There's another big twist for Andy Biersack's character in 'Paradise City', Alternative Press](https://www.altpress.com/andy-biersack-ben-bruce-american-satan-paradise-city-interview)
9. ['American Satan' spin-off reveals relative release date, Alternative Press (April 2, 2019)](https://shop.altpress.com/blogs/news/paradise-city-andy-black-american-satan)
10. [The 'Paradise City' crew didn't know Andy Black and Ben Bruce are musicians, Alternative Press](https://shop.altpress.com/blogs/news/andy-biersack-ben-bruce-american-satan-paradise-city-interview)
11. [Paradise City (2021) TV Series, FilmMusic.com](https://filmmusic.com/tv/paradise-city/)
12. [Paradise City creator explains series was pulled from streaming over Doors lyrics, Yahoo Entertainment (April 5, 2021)](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/paradise-city-creator-explains-series-181545443.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Reboots, revivals, and spin-off series*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license