Movies

The Weeknd Fights Back Against Acting Criticism in New Film Hurry Up Tomorrow!

BBG News

Following a less-than-favorable reception to his past television show, The Weeknd is ready to try acting again. He recently unveiled the initial snapshots of his movie debut titled “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” which also features Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega in prominent roles.

34-year-old artist, who had previously abstained from attending the Grammys but made a comeback this past Sunday, has now unveiled his latest sixth studio album, bearing the same title. The new music is said to inspire an upcoming thriller movie.

In the movie, he portrays a character dealing with persistent sleeplessness, who is drawn into a profound journey with a mysterious man named Ortega. This enigmatic individual progressively peels back layers revealing the very essence of our protagonist’s being, as described in the official summary.

One photo among the latest four releases captures a poignant moment featuring the renowned multiple-platinum musician (born Abel Tesfaye), who appears to be in intense pain, with Jenna, aged 22, tenderly cradling his face.

In another scene, we find the Irish actor, Barry (aged 32), and a character portrayed by The Weeknd, standing before a mirror. As The Weeknd’s character gazes into their reflection, Barry faces him, his forehead gently pressed against the singer’s head.

His first major film release followed intense backlash regarding his acting abilities, which were questioned in the 2023 HBO series “The Idol,” a production where he shared screen time with Lily-Rose Depp.

Another image also features Bella Hadid’s former boyfriend, who is seen seated on the floor, donning a white robe and slippers, while playing a digital piano in his lap.

There’s also an image of Ortega behind a rainy windshield. 

After the photos were released, a number of fans took online to express their skepticism.  

‘how is the weeknd booking roles after his atrocious performance in the idol?’ one asked.

Some people might express it as: “After the disappointment of ‘The Idol,’ some believe that The Weeknd deciding to act again can be seen as a deliberate choice.

I can’t help but wonder if something happened afterward that left both Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan clueless about what they got themselves into when they agreed to be a part of it.

A different supporter expressed their admiration for The Weeknd, but they felt that his performance in The Idol was less than impressive and left them uncertain.

‘Idk why The Weeknd keeps trying to make a career in acting Have yall not seen The Idol?’

I have some reservations about the film, as the idol didn’t seem impressive and at times was even awkward to watch. However, the visuals in the three snapshots are simply stunning! I’m always behind Abel when it comes to his passions, and I’m thrilled that we get a movie based on The Weeknd. XO (with love).

I’m quite excited that The Weeknd seems to have a deep love for cinema, and I really hope his upcoming project surpasses ‘The Idol’. With the incredible artistic talent he’s demonstrated in music, I can’t wait to witness his creative offerings in the world of film as well.

However, others chose to reserve their judgment for when the film comes out. 

Let’s keep in mind that the screenplay for this movie was jointly penned by Sam Levinson, who also crafted ‘Euphoria’. As of now, it seems to be a project by The Weeknd. So, let’s reserve our judgement until we have a glimpse through its trailer.

This movie might delight you if you’re open to giving it a try. It’s important to note that The Weeknd’s performance didn’t single-handedly make ‘The Idol’ average; he’s actually a skilled actor.

On May 16, the psychological thriller penned and directed jointly by Trey Edward Shults will be premiering in cinemas.

A trailer for the film is expected to be released sometime this week.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Shults described the main character as being on the brink of a psychological collapse, or put another way, very close to experiencing a mental breakdown.

‘I honestly feel like I’ve never seen a movie quite like it,’ he added.

‘This experience was really introspective and cathartic for me,’ The Weeknd told the publication.

‘As I progressed from the creation phase to distribution and beyond, it became clear to me that this artistic medium has a remarkable ability to spark discussions on our feelings, psychological well-being, and personal vulnerabilities.’

Additionally, Shults elaborated on the character development process, mentioning that he became acquainted with the Canadian singer through brief counseling sessions over the phone.

He described that we had brief therapy-like conversations, often through lengthy phone discussions, during which we would delve into his past and current life experiences to understand the varying aspects of his emotional state.

It seems to me that we’ve developed a character who, while not an exact replica, truly resonates with the essence of who he could have become given different circumstances in life. I believe this character is facing a time of introspection. He stands at a significant juncture in his journey.

Shults met the Starboy hitmaker after he temporarily lost his voice during a performance in 2022.

The doctors couldn’t detect any physical problems, suggesting that the singer’s predicament seemed psychological. Over time, his vocal abilities recovered, yet the emotional scarring persisted.

He informed Variety, “I realized it was time for me to take a seat and sort out my life’s direction.” He added that he had experienced something akin to a mental breakdown, which is a significant theme in his latest album.

During filming, Ortega explained her character’s role by saying, “I believed my character, Anima, was a representation of Abel. A part of him he doesn’t often reveal in his public persona, The Weeknd.

In a statement about collaborating with The Weeknd, who portrays his on-screen manager Lee, Keoghan expressed: “The Weeknd is an artist who consistently pours such a significant part of himself into his creations. Witnessing him apply the same intensity and creative vision to filmmaking was truly inspiring.

As your trusted lifestyle guide, let me share an exciting piece of news: The highly anticipated project “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is a collaboration between superstar artist The Weeknd, his esteemed company Manic Phase, as well as Fahim, Kevin Turen, and Harrison Kreiss. This dynamic team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring us something truly remarkable!

Previously, he discussed the criticisms his TV series titled “The Idol” received, sharing with Variety that such reception was indeed anticipated.

The current TV show has been criticized severely, with a startling 19% positive review from top-tier critics at Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s also faced intense backlash on social networking sites by viewers.

A significant amount of the feedback towards The Weeknd has centered around his acting abilities, with one critic from Variety labeling them as ‘non-existent’ in a noteworthy headline. Meanwhile, other critics and viewers have expressed concerns about the show being misogynistic, even going so far as to liken it to ‘torture porn’, due to its explicit nudity and sex scenes, several of which involve his co-star Lily-Rose.

In this rendition, Johnny Depp portrayed the role of a pop star named Jocelyn, whereas The Weeknd assumed the character of Tedros, a Svengali-esque nightclub proprietor who gains influence over her professional life.

The show was canceled in August 2023 after only one season. 

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2025-02-04 08:31

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