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EXCLUSIVE: 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 Koeghan. Trey Edward Shults directed what now is being called a suspense 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.
Deadline broke the project last year, when it was untitled and based on an idea by The Weeknd, as Shults was getting started writing the screenplay.
After making his breakthrough on Krisha, Shults has directed Waves and the psychological horror pic It Comes at Night.
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.”
Tesfaye is accomplished at melding genres and creating distinct soundscapes, and the movie takes the title of his new album, which is the culmination of a trilogy of studio albums, the first of which were After Hours and Dawn FM.
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.
