HURRY UP BGFX

TIMELINE

• January 20th, 2025

New studio pictures showcasing Abel & OPN in the studio with Giorgio Moroder

• January 13th, 2025

Abel announces the cancellation of the Rose Bowl show and postpones the album to January 31st out of respect for people affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires

• January 10th, 2025

Abel is the cover star for the latest edition of Variety Magazine. In a new interview, he discusses the inspiration behind ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ and his plans for retiring The Weeknd

- read the full interview here

“I had a good chunk of the album done, but then SoFi happened, and other things happened after, and you go right back to the drawing board,” the Weeknd says. “Because this was a really important, pinnacle moment in my life. How could it not be? And as an artist, you’re telling a story, so you get under the hood and try to figure out what’s going on. In the process, I got closer, and I became more grateful — I know it sounds cliché and soft or whatever, but it’s the truth. I’ve been working on myself to not push people away.”

Musically, the “Hurry Up Tomorrow” album includes plenty of the sleek, chrome-plated hooks that have characterized many of the Weeknd’s biggest hits. But to a degree he hasn’t really done before, it also includes explorations of other genres: classic R&B, straight pop, acoustic guitars, fast beats and an epic, sweeping song, probably the finale, that recalls Prince’s “Purple Rain.” It also features several major special guests, most of whom the Weeknd declined to make public just yet. However, one is pioneering producer-composer Giorgio Moroder, who is best known for his work with Donna Summer on iconic disco-era hits like “I Feel Love” and “Love to Love You Baby,” but was actually more influential to the Weeknd for his film scores, particularly “Midnight Express” and “Scarface.” “Giorgio is a huge inspiration for this album,” the Weeknd says of Moroder, who contributed keyboards, arrangements and vocals to “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” “His DNA has always been in all of my music, but I’m really honing in on it here, especially the operatic synths in ‘Scarface.’ This album feels almost like an opera to me,” he concludes, “this gothic, operatic finale to the trilogy.” Moroder tells Variety, “I’m thrilled to continue bridging the gap with Abel between the past and the future, creating something timeless yet innovative.”

During the interview, after a couple of references to “closing this chapter,” he’s asked which chapter, exactly, he is referring to — the “After Hours” trilogy or his existence as the Weeknd?
After a 30-second pause, he says, “I would say my existence as the Weeknd.”
He continues, slowly, “It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for. I feel like it comes with so much …” He trails off before continuing: “You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it.”

• December 20th, 2024

'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Film is officially announced to release in theaters on May 16th, 2025

• November 4th, 2024

'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Film is picked up by Lionsgate

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Lionsgate has stepped up to land worldwide theatrical distribution rights to Hurry Up Tomorrow, the new title of a film that marks the feature-starring debut of The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye). The Grammy-winning and Oscar- and Emmy-nominated artist stars alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. Trey Edward Shults directed what now is being called a psychological thriller. The film is an extension of the anticipated album of the same title (release date forthcoming) which stands alongside the film’s score by The Weeknd and Daniel Lopatin.
Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, confirmed the deal to Deadline. “Abel is a visionary whose art cannot be confined by any single medium,” he said. “With Hurry Up Tomorrow, in partnership with Trey, his musical universe expands onto the big screen with a psychological thriller that will usher in a new cinematic experience for fans. We are thrilled to be bringing it to audiences worldwide.”
Pic is being produced by his Manic Phase and Reza Fahim along with the late Kevin Turen and Harrison Kreiss. The exec producers are Ortega, Shults, Michael Rapino, Ryan Kroft, Wassim “Sal” Slaiby and Harrison Huffman.The crafts team is rounded out by director of photography Chayse Irvin, production designer Elliott Hostetter, and costume designers Erin Benach and Hannah Jacobs. The soundtrack is done by The Weeknd and Daniel Lopatin.

• October 30th, 2024

‘Sao Paulo’ featuring Anitta is officially released

• October 22nd, 2024

‘Open Hearts’ is premiered live during the After Hours Til Dawn Tour in Sydney, Australia

• September 27th, 2024

‘Timeless’ featuring Playboi Carti is officially released

• September 13th, 2024

‘Dancing In The Flames’ is officially released

• September 7th, 2024

The album cover for 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' is officially revealed

• September 6th, 2024

The Weeknd graces the cover of the latest edition of Billboard Brazil and speaks candidly about the upcoming album, his relationship with Brazil, and mental health

- read the full interview here

The choice of the capital of São Paulo for the start of this tour was not a coincidence. The Weeknd visited the city last October, performing two sold-out nights at Allianz Parque with the show “After Hours Til Dawn”. It was in the capital of São Paulo that Abel composed the central music of the new album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – affectionately nicknamed “Frankenstein” by the singer for exploring different sounds, but without losing its essence. Something he does masterfully. “I can speak for all artists when I say that it is difficult to put into words the love and energy that the Brazilian people express when you are on stage,” says The Weeknd. “You feel music deeply. São Paulo and Rio reminded me that the frequencies we emit as musicians are important. They remind me why I wanted to make music: to connect. I will spend the rest of my life aware of that.”