Hurry Up Tomorrow, an ambitious psychological thriller linked to The Weeknd’s album of the same name, will debut in UK cinemas from May 16. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, the filmmaker behind the acclaimed Waves, the film is unlike anything you’ve seen before. In it, The Weeknd stars as an alternate version of himself, named Abel. This film was no mere visual album project. It’s an incredible full-length film that explores the really… the deep and scary underbelly of fame and identity.
That artistic touch extends to the original narrative, which follows Abel as he functions as a proxy for The Weeknd’s own burgeoning mastery of stardom. The movie serves as a haunting portrayal of her tragic experience. It goes deep into the ironic theme of fame and what a true psychological toll it takes. “The main character’s name is Abel. It’s very much implied that this is The Weeknd,” said Shults, providing insight into the film’s connection to the artist.
Joining The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega portrays Ani, a character the artist refers to as his “sweet side.” Ani is front and center in developing the internal landscape of this story. She’ll force him to question everything that Abel believes he knows about himself and his world. Ortega elaborated on her character, stating, “She’s the feminine side of Abel. The sweet side.”
Hurry Up Tomorrow is an exciting, fast-paced thriller with deeply moving themes of family, loss and redemption that are sure to enrapture audiences. We’re in for a thrilling ride alongside the film, and we hope you’ll take it with us! It moves past more conventional narratives to explore the nuances of identity and fame through Abel’s journey.
Hurry Up Tomorrow is emerging as the most important artistic initiative in The Weeknd’s current album cycle. It both highlights his elasticity as a dancer and physical performer, and as an actor. This project is yet another step in The Weeknd’s creative exploration, deepening his recent foray into the film industry.