Home » The Weeknd Shocks CinemaCon with Electrifying Performance
Entertainment

The Weeknd Shocks CinemaCon with Electrifying Performance

## From Crooning to Chilling: The Weeknd and Jenna Ortega Take Center Stage at CinemaCon! Lights, camera, star power! CinemaCon just got amped up a notch with two major surprises. First, The Weeknd, the enigmatic pop sensation, brought his electrifying performance to the big screen, leaving the crowd buzzing. Then, Jenna Ortega, the queen of chill (and thrills!), unveiled the first glimpse of her upcoming project, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” promising a dose of eerie intrigue. Buckle up, entertainment junkies, because we’re breaking down all the highlights from this Hollywood showdown!

The Weeknd Performs At CinemaCon; Jenna Ortega Shows ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Trailer – Deadline

weeknd-performs-at-cinemacon-jenna-ortega-trailer-0179.jpeg

Lionsgate saved the best for last — Jenna Ortega and The Weeknd — to tubthump their May 16 movie Hurry Up Tomorrow from Trey Edward Schults. The Weeknd lit Caesars Colosseum ablaze with a performance of two songs from the movie, “Cry for Me” and “Open Hearts,” as well as his classic “Blinding Lights,” and a new trailer was unveiled — watch it above.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson threw it to the pic’s co-star Ortega to introduce The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye, and vamp a la SNL-style. He said was too nervous to introduce The Weeknd. The Wednesday actress called out Fogelson, “You’re being really self-deprecating, and I’ve only been out here for five minutes.”

weeknd-performs-at-cinemacon-jenna-ortega-trailer-1537.jpeg

The Cast and Crew

Director Trey Edward Schults describes the movie as “hard to describe” and promises it will be an experience unlike any other.

The Weeknd’s Effortless Collaboration: Director Trey Edward Schults praises The Weeknd as a consummate professional and a pleasure to work with.

Jenna Ortega’s Growing Presence: The Wednesday actress shines in Hurry Up Tomorrow, showcasing her range and talent.

Behind-the-Scenes Insights: Get an inside look at the making of the movie and the experiences of the cast and crew.

CinemaCon Highlights

A Star-Studded Lineup: CinemaCon 2025 features presentations from major studios, including Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and more.

Exciting Trailers and Updates: Stay up-to-date on the latest movie news, including trailers, updates, and behind-the-scenes footage.

Industry Insights: Get an inside look at the latest trends and innovations in the film industry.

Schults described working with Able Tesfy aka The Weeknd was “effortless” from the moment they met. “He’s like family,” the director of Hurry Up Tomorrow said as he was joined on stage by Jenna Ortega to introduce a second trailer for thriller Hurry Up Tomorrow leading into an electric live performance.

The movie is “hard to describe … I haven’t seen a movie quiet like it. It’s very soulful.” “It feels more like an experience,” Ortega said, “and when you go into it with that mentality, it makes sense.”

CinemaCon is currently underway, with presentations from Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal/Focus, Disney, Angel, and Neon highlighting their upcoming film releases.

Lionsgate’s presentation today kicked off with an extended look at Ballerina from director Len Wiseman starring Ana de Armas. Francis Lawrence and Mark Hamill teased the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk, while highlights included the announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping, the next Hunger Games installment. Also revealed was Luca Guadagnino’s reimagining of American Psycho, John Wick 5 in development, Jenna Ortega presenting the Hurry Up Tomorrow trailer, and Paul Feig’s thriller The Housemaid, starring Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney, and Brandon Sklenar.

Sony Pictures brought a packed lineup to CinemaCon 2025, starting with updates on 28 Years Later from directors Danny Boyle and the sequel’s Director, Nia DaCosta, gave an update about 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Other highlights included: Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing trailer, Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey preview, exclusive Spider-Verse footage, details on Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, Tyree Dillihay’s GOAT, and Destin Daniel Cretton’s new Spider-Man project.

The studio also showcased I Know What You Did Last Summer footage, upcoming films like Klara and the Sun, The Breadwinner, Jumanji, and The Legend of Zelda. The event concluded with the Karate Kid trailer and Sam Mendes’ announcement of The Beatles cinematic event.

Since taking its first step in 2011, CinemaCon has evolved and grown to become the largest and most important gathering for the worldwide motion picture theater industry. CinemaCon is truly a global event, attracting attendees from more than 80 countries.

Scroll through the photos below to see the actors, directors, and executives who have participated so far.

Conclusion

As the curtains closed on CinemaCon, The Weeknd took center stage, delivering a mesmerizing performance that left the audience in awe. Meanwhile, Jenna Ortega premiered the trailer for her upcoming film “Hurry Up Tomorrow”, giving fans a glimpse into the highly-anticipated project. At the heart of this event lies a celebration of creativity and innovation in the entertainment industry.

The significance of The Weeknd’s performance and Jenna Ortega’s trailer premiere cannot be overstated. It’s a testament to the power of music and film in bringing people together, transcending genres and borders. As the industry continues to evolve, events like CinemaCon serve as a reminder of the importance of showcasing new talent and innovative storytelling. With the rise of streaming platforms and changing consumer habits, it’s more crucial than ever for creators to push boundaries and experiment with fresh ideas.

As we look to the future, it’s exciting to think about what’s in store for the entertainment industry. With the likes of The Weeknd and Jenna Ortega leading the charge, we can expect even more boundary-pushing performances and films that will leave us breathless. As the curtains close on CinemaCon, we’re reminded that the art of storytelling is more alive than ever, and we’re eager to see what the future holds. As The Weeknd so aptly put it, “The stars are the limit”, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store.