A Striking Debut for Abel Tesfaye’s Acting Career
The newly released trailer for Hurry Up Tomorrow has sent shockwaves through both the entertainment and music industries, offering our first glimpse of Abel Tesfaye (better known as The Weeknd) in his most ambitious creative endeavor yet. The two-minute preview reveals the Grammy-winning artist playing a fictional pop star navigating the dark underbelly of fame – a role that appears terrifyingly close to home for the musician-turned-actor. This cinematic project marks a significant evolution for Tesfaye, who serves not just as star but as co-writer and producer on the film.
Dissecting the Trailer’s Most Revealing Moments
The trailer opens with a haunting shot of Tesfaye’s character (named Julian Saint) staring blankly into a dressing room mirror, his famous curls replaced by a disheveled, greased-back hairstyle. As the camera pushes in, we hear the first lines of dialogue:
“They want the performance, not the person… so I give them what they want.”
What follows is a rapid-fire montage that establishes the film’s central tension – the destructive cycle of fame, addiction, and artistic compromise. Key moments include:
- A chaotic concert sequence where Saint collapses on stage to the horror of fans
- Intimate studio sessions showing the character’s creative process
- Shocking glimpses of drug use and hedonistic afterparties
- Tense confrontations with management (including a standout scene with co-star Tilda Swinton)
The Weeknd’s Uncanny Self-Reflection
What makes this performance particularly fascinating is how it mirrors Tesfaye’s own career trajectory. The Canadian artist rose from underground R&B sensation to global superstar, with his music frequently exploring themes of excess, heartbreak, and the price of success. In playing Julian Saint, Tesfaye appears to be exorcising personal demons while commenting on celebrity culture at large.
The trailer suggests several parallels between fiction and reality:
- Saint’s early career bears resemblance to The Weeknd’s House of Balloons era
- The character’s signature red jacket evokes Tesfaye’s After Hours persona
- A disturbing scene of facial bandages recalls the artist’s Dawn FM promotional imagery
Supporting Cast Adds Depth to the Drama
While Tesfaye dominates the trailer, brief glimpses of the impressive supporting cast promise compelling interplay:
Tilda Swinton as the enigmatic label executive, delivering the trailer’s most chilling line: “We don’t need you healthy, Julian. We need you profitable.”
Barry Keoghan as a fellow musician caught in Saint’s destructive orbit, seen in one harrowing shot attempting an intervention.
Rachel Sennott as a journalist documenting Saint’s unraveling, serving as the audience’s point-of-view character.
Visual Style: A Hallucinogenic Descent
Director Gia Coppola (granddaughter of Francis Ford) establishes a distinct visual language that blends:
- Concert footage shot with dizzying, immersive camerawork
- Surreal fantasy sequences featuring grotesque, mask-wearing figures
- Stark, unflinching close-ups of Tesfaye’s increasingly gaunt face
The cinematography by rising star Ari Wegner (The Power of the Dog) alternates between glamorous and grimy, often within the same scene.
Musical Teases and Original Score
While the trailer features an ominous original composition, brief snippets suggest Tesfaye has created an entirely new musical persona for the film. One haunting studio scene reveals Saint recording what appears to be a departure from his character’s established sound – a raw, acoustic ballad that devolves into frustrated screams.
Industry insiders report the film will include at least five original songs written specifically for the project, potentially launching a new chapter in The Weeknd’s discography.
Themes Explored: More Than Just Another Fame Story
Beyond the surface-level spectacle, the trailer hints at deeper explorations of:
The Commodification of Artists – Multiple shots emphasize the machinery behind Saint’s stardom, from focus groups analyzing his appeal to executives debating rebranding strategies.
Racial Dynamics in Pop Music – Brief but potent imagery suggests commentary on how Black artists are packaged for mainstream consumption.
The Myth of Redemption – Contrary to standard rise-fall-rise narratives, the trailer implies a more ambiguous, possibly tragic arc.
Early Awards Buzz
Though the film won’t premiere until fall festival season, the trailer has already generated Oscar speculation for:
- Tesfaye’s transformative performance
- Coppola’s direction
- The original songs
- Potential makeup/prosthetics work showing Saint’s physical deterioration
Fan and Industry Reactions
Social media erupted following the trailer’s release, with particular praise for:
- The visceral authenticity of Tesfaye’s performance
- Coppola’s bold visual choices
- The daring meta-commentary on celebrity culture
Music critics have noted the project could redefine what’s possible for musicians transitioning to film, following in the footsteps of Lady Gaga’s A Star Is Born success but with far darker thematic material.
What We Still Don’t Know
Key questions remain unanswered:
- How autobiographical is the story?
- Will there be traditional musical numbers or more abstract sequences?
- Does the film offer any hope or purely depict destruction?
- How will Tesfaye’s massive fanbase respond to such unflinching content?
The Bigger Picture: Blurring Art and Artist
Hurry Up Tomorrow appears positioned to continue pop culture’s recent fascination with deconstructing fame (Elvis, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), but with a distinctly modern, more psychologically complex approach. By casting himself as this troubled icon, Tesfaye invites uncomfortable questions about his own relationship with stardom.
Release Strategy and Expectations
While no firm date was announced, the trailer’s “Coming Soon” card suggests:
- A likely Venice or TIFF premiere
- Theatrical release before year’s end
- Potential awards-qualifying run
- Accompanying soundtrack release
Final Verdict: A Bold Reinvention
Based on this first look, Hurry Up Tomorrow promises to be far more than a vanity project. The trailer suggests a genuinely daring piece of filmmaking that could:
- Redefine Tesfaye’s career
- Establish Coppola as a major directorial voice
- Offer one of the most incisive showbiz critiques in recent memory
For audiences, the film appears to deliver both visceral entertainment and uncomfortable truths – the perfect combination for memorable cinema. As the trailer’s final title card fades to black, we’re left with Saint’s whispered confession: “I signed up for the dream… not what came after.” If the full film delivers on this promise, we may be witnessing the birth of a new kind of music movie – one that doesn’t just celebrate stardom, but dissects it without anesthetic.