Fans are still hoping for a One Direction reunion more than eight years after the band announced their split – but Simon Cowell doesn’t think it’s on the cards.
Cowell, 64, spoke to Steven Bartlett on The Director’s diary podcast on June 10 about his latest search for the next boy band and said he doesn’t think One Direction will ever get back together.
One Direction, which consisted of Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne, announced in December 2015 their plans to go on hiatus next spring. Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger played a major role in the formation of One Direction in the reality competition series The X factor in 2010 after all five members initially auditioned to be solo artists. Cowell eventually signed the band to his former record label Syco Music.
Zayn Malik recalls saving Harry Styles from ‘really dangerous’ pyrotechnic accident at One Direction concert
During a podcast appearance, Cowell, 64, said each of the five former band members owns a percentage of the One Direction name. “If one member of the band says for whatever reason they don’t want to go on tour, it can stop the rest of them from touring,” Cowell said.
Cowell also shared his regret at not owning the name himself. He explained that if he had the name One Direction, he “could go on tour with the three of them” instead of making all the original members come back. “If you listen, I’ll buy it off you,” he joked.
Asked if he thought the band would ever reform, Cowell said: “I doubt it.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Styles, Tomlinson, Horan and Payne have all expressed interest in a potential reunion over the years, but there are no official plans.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/one-direction-simon-cowell-1-061024-e79fdbbb200b414a9b0ec4747e6cda93.jpg)
One Direction with Simon Cowell in X Factor.
Dave Hogan/Getty
During the podcast, Cowell also recalled how he realized early on that the members of One Direction had star power. He recalled a time when the group was on a beach in Spain and “everyone [was] watching them.” Cowell recounted: “It’s amazing. Everyone looks at these five boys as if they are already stars.”
Rolling stone confirmed on June 4 that Cowell plans to hold auditions across the UK next month to find members for the new boy band sensation. They will make a documentary series about the whole process, from the audition to the formation of the group.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/one-direction-simon-cowell-4-061024-e7c006fcb68943779ba505de89a8fafe.jpg)
Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Harry Styles from One Direction.
Dave M. Bennett/WireImage
Harry Styles celebrates end of love on tour after two years: ‘See you again when the time is right’
“I’m doing it because right now, because in my opinion, I don’t think a band has been as good as One Direction since One Direction,” Cowell said on Director’s diary. “If you look at the amount of solo artists versus bands in the pop music world right now, it’s incredible.”
Cowell explained: “The only way I know [how] putting a band together means someone has to audition. So we just thought ‘you know what, if I don’t do it this year I’m going to really regret it’.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education