Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, is starring in his first feature film! He co-wrote and toplines the electrifying pic “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” opposite his bold “Krin” helmer Trey Edward Shults. The movie acts as a visual counterpart to Tesfaye’s sixth studio album, also of the same name. It’s scheduled for release on May 16th.
To find out, Jenna Ortega takes center stage as Anima, or “Ani,” while Barry Keoghan stars as Lee, The Weeknd’s character’s manager. The film dives deep into the idea of self-reflection and personal struggle through the characters depicted on-screen. Through Shults and Tesfaye’s eyes, they want to show something that feels “new” and “different,” specifically designing a narrative that stays purposefully unclear.
The concept for “Hurry Up Tomorrow” originated from a fateful day in 2022. At his last concert in the U.S., Tesfaye abruptly lost his voice in Los Angeles. This unexpectedly pivotal moment became the focus of the story, giving the filmmakers the freedom to really explore the internal, often overwhelming struggles with artistry. As Shults noted, “As things were evolving, we’d start connecting it to certain movies,” emphasizing the organic development of the film’s storytelling.
In her new position, Ortega explains that Ani is left “very neglected and unseen.” Read on as she discusses how the film beautifully explores complicated feelings.
“And she knows that she cares deeply about Abel more than anyone else ever could. It’s frustrating when you feel like you’re almost talking to a wall of somebody who’s so unwilling to look at themselves in the mirror. And that’s kind of what the film is about: the fear of having to deal with yourself and open up to yourself.” – Jenna Ortega
So the creative team made a bold decision to reveal very little of the film’s content. That was something that they decided not to show too much of in the trailers. Tesfaye underscored a romanticized notion of this approach.
“With me and Trey, we romanticize the idea of giving out a trailer that doesn’t give away anything.” – Abel Tesfaye
Scenarios for engaging the public just like Shults resonated with this sentiment. That deep adjustment helped them preserve the film’s playful tone without tipping into didacticism or otherwise limiting viewers’ imaginative readings.
“I also think it’s honest to the tone of the film,” – Trey Edward Shults
In Hurry Up Tomorrow, Tesfaye adopts a fictionalized persona. In doing so he brings to life an artist wrestling with insomnia and reckoning with who he is. There are surprise and delightful quotations from great old movies hidden throughout the film. It winks to the 1974 rock horror “Phantom of the Paradise” and the 1966 Ingmar Bergman thriller “Persona.”
Ortega’s participation goes further than just acting. She’s an executive producer on the film. As producer in this multi-faceted role, she was able to help shape the project while continuing to ensure its emotional depth would speak to audiences.
The Weeknd is doing a radical cool jump from music to movies. So fans of his work are absolutely itching to see how he approaches this new and very exciting medium! Shults emphasized the collaborative nature of their work, stating, “We weren’t really [looking for] references for the film, it kind of just came to us.” This description places their imaginative process as one that is organic, reactive and dynamic.
