The is probably some of the most interesting casting news I’ve heard in a bit and it’s truly inspired. It has been announced Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe is set to play “Weird Al” Yankovic in a biopic, per “The Hollywood Reporter.”
The biopic, which is being set up exclusively on The Roku Channel, will be called Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Per the official description for the film it “holds nothing back, exploring every facet of Yankovic’s life, from his meteoric rise to fame with early hits like ‘Eat It’ and ‘Like a Surgeon’ to his torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story takes audiences on a truly unbelievable journey through Yankovic’s life and career, from gifted child prodigy to the greatest musical legend of all time.”
Yankovic and Eric Appel penned the screenplay for the film and Appel will also be directing the project and executive producing. Funny or Die and Tango are producing the film, which begins shooting in Los Angeles in early February. Yankovic had this to say about the upcoming project:
“When my last movie UHF came out in 1989, I made a solemn vow to my fans that I would release a major motion picture every 33 years, like clockwork. I’m very happy to say we’re on schedule and I am absolutely thrilled that Daniel Radcliffe will be portraying me in the film. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the role future generations will remember him for.”
“Weird Al” Yankovic is a prolific musician known for his parodies of popular songs in pop culture. Hits like “Eat It” and “Amish Paradise” are still considered pop-culture mainstays and they have turned him into a five-time Grammy winner in the process. As for Radcliffe, he just reunited with his Harry Potter co-stars and crew for a 20th anniversary special on HBO Max and he’ll next be seen in the Paramount comedy The Lost City, alongside Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum.
What are YOUR thoughts on Daniel Radcliffe playing Weird Al?