The Weeknd is basically a ghost in his own narrative. For years, Abel Tesfaye has operated under this heavy, cinematic persona—a character drenched in red suits, bandages, and 80s synth-pop gloom. But now, everything is shifting. Hurry Up Tomorrow isn't just a movie title; it’s the definitive end of an era. It’s the final piece of a trilogy that started with After Hours and Dawn FM. If you’ve been following the breadcrumbs, you know this isn't just a side project. It’s a full-scale psychological thriller that marks the death of "The Weeknd" and the birth of Abel.
Honestly, the hype is weirdly grounded for something this massive. We aren't looking at a traditional concert film or a vanity project. This is a collaboration with Trey Edward Shults, the guy who directed It Comes at Night and Waves. If you know Shults’ work, you know he does "uncomfortable" better than almost anyone in Hollywood. He has this way of making the camera feel like it’s breathing down your neck. When you pair that with the visual language Abel has developed over the last five years, you get something that feels more like a fever dream than a standard theatrical release.
The Cast is What Actually Makes This Interesting
Most people expected a solo vehicle. They were wrong. The casting of Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan changed the entire vibe of the Hurry Up Tomorrow movie before a single frame was even leaked.
Think about it. Jenna Ortega is the reigning queen of the macabre right now. Between Wednesday and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, she has this specific, twitchy energy that fits perfectly into a psychological thriller. Then you have Barry Keoghan. The man is a chameleon. He can go from being heartbreakingly vulnerable in The Banshees of Inisherin to being absolutely terrifying in Saltburn. Putting these two in a room with Abel—who is arguably one of the most famous people on the planet but a relatively unproven lead actor—is a bold move. It suggests the script has actual meat on its bones. It’s not just a long-form music video.
The chemistry on set has been the subject of endless Reddit theories. While we don't have a play-by-play of the plot yet, the production was centered in Los Angeles, specifically utilizing iconic locations that feel both expansive and claustrophobic. It’s a psychological thriller at its core. Sources close to the production have hinted that the film deals heavily with the themes of fame, identity, and the literal "tomorrow" that Abel has been running toward since 2020.
Why the Hurry Up Tomorrow Movie Matters for Music Fans
Music and film are colliding here in a way we haven't seen since maybe Prince or Pink Floyd. This film is being produced alongside Abel’s upcoming studio album, also titled Hurry Up Tomorrow.
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- The Narrative Loop: If After Hours was the party and the crash, and Dawn FM was the purgatory in the middle, this film is the "light at the end of the tunnel." Or maybe it's the tunnel collapsing.
- The Soundtrack: Unlike a normal score, the music here is the engine. We’re talking about a sonic experience that is being mixed specifically for a theatrical environment.
- The Persona: Abel has explicitly stated in interviews with W Magazine that he is ready to "kill The Weeknd." This movie is the execution.
It’s kind of wild to think about. A global superstar at the absolute peak of his streaming powers decided to wrap it all up in a movie. Usually, artists just keep releasing the same vibe until people stop listening. He’s doing the opposite. He’s creating a definitive "The End" sign.
Behind the Scenes: Trey Edward Shults and the Visual Language
The cinematography is being handled by Chayse Irvin. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he worked on Blonde and Beyoncé’s Lemonade. He’s a master of 35mm and 65mm film, which gives Hurry Up Tomorrow a grain and a texture that digital just can't mimic.
The production hasn't been without its whispers. Filming in LA is expensive and logistical hell, especially when you have paparazzi trying to catch a glimpse of Ortega and Tesfaye together. But the discipline on this set has been airtight. They aren't going for "pop star glitz." They’re going for "indie grit with a blockbuster budget."
Shults is known for using aspect ratio changes to signify shifts in a character’s mental state. In Waves, the screen literally constricted as the pressure on the protagonist grew. Don't be surprised if Hurry Up Tomorrow does something similar. We aren't just watching a story; we're meant to feel the walls closing in on the character.
Breaking Down the "Psychological Thriller" Label
What does that even mean in this context? Most musical films are either biopics or concert docs. This is neither.
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The Hurry Up Tomorrow movie is a scripted, fictional narrative. It’s being described as a high-stakes thriller, but the "threat" might be internal. When you look at the lyrics of the songs Abel has teased—like "Wake Me Up"—there’s a recurring theme of being trapped in a dream or a hallucination. The movie likely mirrors this. It’s about a man losing his grip on what’s real and what’s "The Weeknd."
There's a specific kind of dread that comes with his music. That "4 AM in a dark club" feeling. Shults is the perfect director to translate that into a visual medium. He doesn't rely on jump scares. He relies on the slow realization that something is fundamentally wrong with the world you’re looking at.
Expectation vs. Reality: The Box Office Question
Let’s be real. Will people go see this?
The Weeknd has over 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify. If even 5% of those people show up to a theater, it’s a massive hit. But the film isn't just for fans. By casting Keoghan and Ortega, the studio is signaling to the Academy and to cinephiles that this is a "real" movie. It’s a play for prestige.
There’s a risk, though. Musicians moving into acting is a path littered with failures. For every Lady Gaga in A Star is Born, there’s a dozen projects that felt like vanity plays. However, Abel’s work on The Idol—despite the massive controversy and mixed reviews—showed that he’s willing to be unlikable on screen. He’s not afraid to look ugly or pathetic. That’s a requirement for a psychological thriller to actually work. You can't be worried about your brand when you're playing a character who is unraveling.
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The Actual Timeline: When Can We Watch It?
The rollout has been intentionally cryptic. We’ve seen the posters. We’ve seen the title reveals. We know the album is coming. The film is expected to have a significant theatrical window before hitting streaming services. This is important. Abel wants you to see this on a big screen with a professional sound system.
Marketing for the Hurry Up Tomorrow movie has leaned heavily into the "live event" feel. Think about the one-night-only show in São Paulo. That wasn't just a concert; it was a production. It featured structures and lighting rigs that looked like they were ripped straight off a film set. Everything is connected.
If you're trying to keep track of the release, keep an eye on A24-adjacent circles. While they aren't the sole distributor, the DNA of the film screams A24. It’s moody, it’s expensive-looking but focused, and it’s unapologetically weird.
Final Steps for the Audience
If you want to actually "get" this movie when it drops, you have to do a little homework. This isn't a standalone Marvel flick where you can just walk in and understand everything.
- Re-watch the "After Hours" short film. It sets the tone for the violence and the surrealism that Abel likes.
- Listen to "Dawn FM" from start to finish. Pay attention to Jim Carrey’s narration. It talks a lot about "regret" and "the light," which are going to be massive themes in this movie.
- Track the "Hurry Up Tomorrow" album release. The lyrics will likely provide the internal monologue for the characters in the film.
- Look into Trey Edward Shults’ filmography. Watch Waves. It will prepare you for the visual style and the heavy emotional weight he brings to his projects.
The Hurry Up Tomorrow movie is the final transition. It’s the moment Abel Tesfaye steps out from behind the curtain and leaves The Weeknd behind for good. Whether it’s a masterpiece or a beautiful disaster, it’s going to be the most talked-about film of the season.
Stay tuned to official channels for the definitive trailer drop. Usually, these things happen on a Friday at midnight, fitting perfectly with the brand's nocturnal energy. Don't expect a traditional marketing blitz. Expect mystery. Expect a slow burn. And most of all, expect the unexpected when the lights finally go down in the theater.