Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, is trading in chart domination for psychological disintegration in Hurry Up Tomorrow, a film that’s already sparking curiosity and debate.
Directed by Trey Edward Shults (Waves, It Comes at Night), this Lionsgate-backed feature marks The Weeknd’s first proper lead role on the big screen—assuming you don’t count his chaotic cameo in Uncut Gems.
But will this “loose remake” of Misery be the cinematic redemption arc he needs after the critical backlash of The Idol?
A Mind Unravelling: Hurry Up Tomorrow Plot
The official trailer for Hurry Up Tomorrow has finally dropped, offering a cryptic glimpse into the film’s psychological tension.
It opens with an unsettling aerial shot of an upside-down cityscape before spiralling into a montage of flashing neon, eerie whispers, and fragmented imagery that disorients as much as it intrigues.
Jenna Ortega’s character, Anima, emerges through dream-like sequences, her presence adding to the film’s surreal, almost hallucinatory quality.
The story follows a musician, played by Abel Tesfaye, who suffers from insomnia and encounters a mysterious stranger (Ortega), setting off an odyssey that unravels his grip on reality.
Rather than laying out a clear narrative, the trailer leans into atmospheric dread, favoring mood over exposition.
Barry Keoghan appears as Abel’s weary-eyed manager, his presence amplifying the underlying unease that permeates every frame.
Ortega, already a familiar face in horror, describes Hurry Up Tomorrow as “an experimental telling of what it means to be an artist who is changing, evolving, managing their past while trying not to fear the unknown.”
With Trey Edward Shults at the helm, the film looks set to embrace artistic ambiguity, making it more than just a standard psychological thriller.
A Soundtrack That’s More Than Background Noise
The Weeknd isn’t just starring—he’s scored the film, with Hurry Up Tomorrow doubling as his latest album.
This isn’t just a marketing ploy; the soundtrack is reportedly integral to the movie’s structure, much like Purple Rain was for Prince.
The album, already released ahead of the film, serves as the conclusion to the trilogy that began with After Hours and Dawn FM, solidifying the project as an ambitious multimedia experience rather than just a vanity project.
A Rough Road to Release
Despite its high-profile cast and compelling concept, Hurry Up Tomorrow struggled to find a distributor.
Filming wrapped in early 2023, yet the project remained in limbo until Lionsgate acquired it in late 2024.
Was it studio hesitancy due to The Weeknd’s acting reputation, or did the film’s unconventional nature make it a tough sell?
Either way, the delay has only added to the film’s mystique, with audiences now eager to see if the long wait was worth it.
The Weeknd’s Big Screen Gamble
The Weeknd’s acting career hasn’t exactly been met with universal praise.
His performance in The Idol drew criticism for feeling wooden and self-indulgent, but Hurry Up Tomorrow presents a different challenge.
This is his first leading film role, and if the trailer is anything to go by, the performance is much more subdued and introspective. Could this be the role that shifts perceptions?
Barry Keoghan’s presence in the film is also worth noting. Fresh off Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin, Keoghan has a track record of elevating every project he touches.
His dynamic with Tesfaye could be one of the most intriguing elements of the film, especially if he’s playing a guiding force to the protagonist’s downward spiral.
Will Hurry Up Tomorrow Deliver?
There’s a lot riding on Hurry Up Tomorrow, both for The Weeknd’s credibility as an actor and for Lionsgate’s gamble in picking it up.
Early reactions are a mixed bag—some are excited about the artistic ambition, while others are worried it will be another case of style over substance.
The comparisons to Misery are intriguing, but this film appears to be playing by its own rules.
One thing’s for certain: whether it’s a triumph or a beautiful disaster, Hurry Up Tomorrow is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about releases of 2025.
With a May 16 release date set, audiences won’t have to wait much longer to see if The Weeknd’s latest project is a genuine cinematic reinvention or just another elaborate fever dream.
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