The Weeknd drops surprise short film tied with his latest album: All you need to know

After kicking off the year with an album release and surprise performance at the Grammy Awards, The Weeknd continues to insert himself into pop culture relevance. In more recent news it was announced that he will star in the upcoming feature film Hurry Up Tomorrow, based on his record, alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan.

In light of his upcoming projects, and accomplishments to this point, the Toronto native sat down with Complex for an in depth interview. He discussed everything from his creative process, taking “26-minute astronaut naps” to battle exhaustion, and his response to online trolling and criticism.

As a companion piece to the interview, Abel also appears in a short film which serves as a meditation of his artistry and life thus far.

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The Weeknd’s Complex Short - Abel Examined

The 4 minute film can be described as a deeply personal look inside Abel’s psyche. The official synopsis for the short, per Complex, only strengthens that claim.

“In this reflective short film, the Weeknd speaks to his younger self, encouraging him to ask questions about the future and remember the light before it's all gone.”

The animated short is set in a mystical setting, scored by musical chords reminiscent of so many that appear on the artist’s greatest hits. It truly is an immersive visual experience, anchored by a meaningful conversation between two iterations of the same person. The sound mix is also impeccable, making it an unskippable must-watch.

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The Weeknd's 2025 at a glance

As touched upon earlier, the Weeknd will make his big-screen debut with Hurry Up Tomorrow, set to release in theaters on May 16 of this year. It has been described as a musical psychological thriller, with Trey Edward Shults directing and editing. The Weeknd plays a fictionalized version of himself and the studio’s synopsis for the film is as follows.

“Plagued by insomnia, a musician gets pulled into a nightmarish odyssey with a stranger who begins to unravel the very core of his existence.”

Apart from his role in the upcoming film, The Weeknd is also gearing up for his After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour, which kicks off on May 9 at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix. The North American tour will hit 24 cities across the United States and Canada, and culminate with a show at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on September 3. Playboi Carti and Mike Dean will appear as special guests.