Grammy-winning artist Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, explores personal psychological struggles in his first feature film, Hurry Up Tomorrow. The psychological horror-drama is set for release on May 16.
Tesfaye co-wrote the film and stars as a fictionalized version of himself who experiences a mental decline after losing his voice onstage. He described his real-life battles with sleep paralysis as central to the film’s concept.
“There are no antagonists in this film,” Tesfaye told the FADER. “I think that sleep paralysis is the enemy.” He detailed experiencing vivid nightmares while half-awake and paralyzed, sometimes seeing shadowy figures or hearing voices. He stated that managing lack of sleep has helped him cope with the condition.
The film's narrative draws directly from a real event in 2022 when Tesfaye abruptly ended a show in California due to losing his voice. This experience provides the catalyst for the character's journey into mental turmoil.
Tesfaye collaborated on the script with Reza Fahim, who also worked on HBO's The Idol, and director Trey Edward Shults. Shults is known for independent films such as Krisha, It Comes At Night, and Waves, which helped establish A24.
The cast includes Jenna Ortega as a mysterious companion and Barry Keoghan as a hanger-on. Ortega has described the film as "very soulful" and feeling "more like an experience," noting its aim to provoke reflection through ambiguity Jenna Ortega.
Artistic influences cited for the film include directors Ingmar Bergman and Terrence Malick. Shults mentioned studying Bergman's Persona and drawing inspiration from Malick's use of music with imagery, referencing films like Tree of Life and Waves The FADER.
Hurry Up Tomorrow is also connected to Tesfaye's 2025 album of the same name. Tesfaye stated he wrote music for the film during production, which went on to inspire tracks on the album.
The filmmakers aimed for an open-ended storytelling approach, avoiding definitive answers. Shults noted his preference for movies where "everything's not tied up in a beautiful bow," allowing audiences to have their own interpretations The Music Felt Like It Was Another Character.
