Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan Join The Weeknd for ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Premiere

Abel Tesfaye, known globally as The Weeknd, made his full-length feature debut in New York this week at the world premiere of Hurry Up Tomorrow, a genre-blending psychological thriller which marks a bold step into cinema for the artist. Held at a packed venue ahead of its 16 May release via Lionsgate, the premiere welcomed co-stars Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, along with director Trey Edward Shults, who co-wrote the film with Tesfaye and producer Reza Fahim.

Described as a surreal odyssey into the mind of a fractured musician, Hurry Up Tomorrow follows Tesfaye’s character as he navigates insomnia, identity collapse and a deepening disconnection from reality, all while haunted by a stranger who appears to understand him better than he does himself. Ortega plays Anima, a figure of both grounding presence and enigma, while Keoghan’s role as Lee is understood to be central to the protagonist’s unraveling.

The red carpet saw Ortega turning heads in a vintage Christian Dior dress famously worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City, a choice that quickly lit up social media. Following the screening, Tesfaye surprised guests at Boom nightclub with a live performance alongside DJ Kaytranada, reinforcing the project’s cross-media ambition as part of a wider rollout that includes an album and tour under the same title.

While the film is only now reaching audiences, it has reportedly been completed for over a year, with delays stemming from behind-the-scenes complications including tensions involving late producer Kevin Turen and his industry associates. With its eventual backing by Lionsgate and a $15 million production budget funded by Live Nation Entertainment, the film arrives with both intrigue and expectation attached.

Shot on a mix of 35mm, 16mm and Super 8 film by cinematographer Chayse Irvin, and featuring a score co-composed by Daniel Lopatin and Tesfaye himself, Hurry Up Tomorrow aims to blur the boundaries between music and cinema. Directed by Shults, known for Waves and It Comes at Night, the film is pitched as both companion and counterpoint to Tesfaye’s sixth studio album, said to have been shaped in tandem with the film’s post-production process.

Following his controversial stint on HBO’s The Idol, Tesfaye’s move into cinema has been watched closely. Hurry Up Tomorrow is expected to offer a more abstract, character-focused role, with the artist playing a version of himself grappling with fame, trauma, and the collapse of creative purpose.

Whether the film resonates with broader audiences beyond Tesfaye’s fanbase remains to be seen, but its debut at a packed New York premiere, complete with industry buzz and fashion flashpoints, marks a notable moment for a project long held in limbo.

Hurry Up Tomorrow trailer

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