By In possibly the strangest bit of casting news in quite some time, it has been announced that Daniel Radcliffe (of Harry Potter fame) will be portraying musician/comedian Weird Al Yankovic in a brand new biopic for The Roku Channel. Titled Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, the film will be a co-production between Funny or Die and Tango that is seemingly based on a similar short film made in 2010.
Both Yankovic and Eric Appel, a Funny or Die alum, penned the script and Appel is set to direct the feature. The movie is said to include every facet of Yankovic’s life beginning with this childhood and working its way up to his first hit singles. It will also showcase some of Yankovic’s torrid love affairs and parts of his depraved lifestyle…whatever that means.
I’m more curious how Daniel Radcliffe fits into the picture. He bears no resemblance to Weird Al and I’m not sure I could see him playing in a semi-non-fictional movie. He has definitely carved out his own weird niche within the Hollywood sphere, but Weird Al?
As for Yankovic’s thoughts on the project, he told Deadline, “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.” At least he’s got a sense of humor about things.
Source: Deadline
