The newest queen of horror,Jenna Ortega’s next horror project just received a big update.While fans wait forWednesdayseason 2, Ortega has another horror project on the horizon. From the director ofWavesandIt Comes at Night,Hurry Up Tomorrowstars Ortega, Barry Keoghan, and Abel Tesfaye, most commonly known as the multi-platinum artistThe Weeknd. Lionsgate has released the first stills from the film directed and co-written by Trey Edward Shults, showing off the cinematic horror coming to theaters on May 16. The quasi-autobiographical story centers on “a musician plagued by insomnia [who] gets pulled into an odyssey with a stranger (Ortega) who begins to unravel the very core of his existence,” according to the official synopsis.
The photos show off the unique lighting of Shults' upcoming film and were accompanied by anEWinterview with the director and the muse himself, The Weeknd. However, perhaps even more interesting than the first look isShults' comments on how the eerie project came to be. The film is tightly connected to and heavily inspired by The Weeknd’s recently released album of the same name, which at the time of making the film was only at a demo stage.Over the course of developing the script for the film, the two artists worked together to create a film and album, both informed by the other.
“I got crazy inspired with him.There wasn’t really music; it wasn’t like, ‘Here’s an album, I want to make a movie.’ It was more like, ‘Let’s make a movie.‘He had some pieces of music, and at that point, it was primarily demos and instrumentals, and he just sent me those, and I got on a crazy writing flow with him.”
Shults and The Weeknd Created a Horror Movie That Looks at How Music Sounds
After a battle with mental health that left him unable to perform,The Weeknd has solidified his creative niche. The artist has been known for his critiques, satires, and commentaries on the oddities and drawbacks of fame, especially in the music industry. The “Starboy” singer has frequently incorporated those themes into his music, but made a bold stand on the controversial topic in his acting debut in theoverall poorly-received HBO dramaThe Idol, starring himself and Lily-Rose Depp, fromEuphoriacreator Sam Levinson.
Maybe The Weeknd’s New Thriller With Jenna Ortega & Barry Keoghan Can Save Lionsgate
Hurry Up Tomorrow, described as a musically driven psychological thriller, has landed a worldwide distribution deal at Lionsgate.
Now, after a public struggle with his career, The Weeknd is doubling down on his niche in his new project and is ready to show off the horrors that fame can cause. He said:
“This experience was really introspective and cathartic for me,from writing to production and through post — I realized just how much of a catalyst this art form can be for conversations about our emotions, mental health, and vulnerabilities.”
If looks aren’t enough to convince fans ofHurry Up Tomorrow’s potential, thenthe display of horror inspired by lived experience should be more than intriguing to horror fans. All eyes are on The Weeknd, Ortega, and Keoghan as the film’s release date of May 16 rapidly approaches.
Hurry Up Tomorrow
