Charli XCX brought her Brat era to an emphatic close on Friday, ending her headlining tour with a final performance at One Universe Festival in Gwacheon-si, South Korea. The show, which capped more than a year of cultural dominance from the British pop innovator, concluded with a farewell that was as ambiguous as it was emotional: a towering screen displayed the words, “Please don’t let it be over,” as the singer walked offstage.

That moment marked the official end of a record cycle that has defined pop music in the past two years. To fans who watched Charli XCX’s neon-green Brat album cover become a global symbol of chaotic joy, internet culture, and hyperpop excess, the goodbye was both inevitable and hard to accept. But if there was melancholy in the air, there was also intrigue. Hours after the performance, Charli XCX posted a concert photo to social media, paired with a brief clip of a film slate teasing the first scene of a new project titled The Moment.

When Brat arrived in 2024, its impact was immediate. The album’s glossy yet abrasive tracks and unapologetically “messy” branding dominated TikTok trends, party playlists, and cultural discourse. Beyond the internet, the record spilled into politics and prestige, soundtracking everything from viral campaign content during Kamala Harris’ presidential run to celebratory moments on award-show stages.

The industry recognition matched the hype. Charli XCX walked away from the 2025 Grammys with three trophies, including Best Dance Pop Recording and Best Dance/Electronic Album. Critics hailed Brat as both a career-defining statement and a lightning rod for a generation embracing maximalist fun in an uncertain cultural landscape.

Despite the accolades, Charli XCX herself has been blunt about what comes next. Speaking earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, she admitted she has little interest in repeating the formula that made Brat so successful. “When I was making [Brat], even though I really believed in it and totally knew what I wanted to do with it, I had no idea how it would be received,” she said. “So yeah, I don’t really feel the pressure because I feel that you can never really do the same thing twice, and my next record will probably be a flop, which I’m down for, to be honest.”

That candid outlook reflects Charli XCX’s long-standing tension between mainstream pop expectations and her experimental instincts. From her early days as a blog-era cult favorite to her rise as a chart-topping songwriter and performer, she has consistently embraced unpredictability.

If Charli XCX is stepping back from the world-conquering energy of Brat, she isn’t disappearing. The singer already has several screen projects in the pipeline. She is set to appear in the erotic thriller I Want Your Sex opposite Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman, the satirical comedy Sacrifice alongside Chris Evans and Anya Taylor-Joy, and the fantasy film 100 Nights of Hero. She also took a meta turn earlier this year, playing a heightened version of herself in Benito Skinner’s comedy series Overcompensating, which premiered in May.

The teaser for The Moment suggests she is also creating original visual work, though its exact nature remains unclear. Whether it’s a short film, a larger cinematic project, or a new hybrid of music and art, fans are already parsing every clue.