Daniel Radcliffe, best-known for playing Harry Potter in the eponymous film franchise, is set to star as musician “Weird Al” Yankovic in a biopic titled WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story, backed by Roku Inc.
Production of the biopic, that will be available exclusively on The Roku Channel, will begin in Los Angeles in early February.
WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story will take audiences on a journey through Yankovic’s life and career, from gifted child prodigy to the greatest musical legend of all time, as per the statement from Roku. The press release further adds that the biopic will explore 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.
Alfred Matthew Yankovic, popularly known as “Weird Al” Yankovic, is one of the most successful comedy recording artists of all time. A five-time Grammy award winner, his 2014 release Mandatory Fun was the first comedy album to debut at #1 on USA’s Billboard 200. He is one of only three artists to have had top 40 hits in each of the last four decades (the others being Michael Jackson and Madonna). On August 27, 2018, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The upcoming biopic is written by Yankovic himself in association with Eric Appel, who will also direct the film.
“When Weird Al first sat me down against my will and told me his life story, I didn’t believe any of it, but I knew that we had to make a movie about it,” said Appel, who is an executive producer of the project as well.
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WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story will be produced by Yankovic, along with Mike Farah, Joe Farrell and Whitney Hodack for Funny Or Die, and Tim Headington, Lia Buman, and Max Silva for Tango. Funny Or Die’s Chairman Henry Muñoz III, Tango’s Neil Shah, and Appel will serve as executive producers.
“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,” said Yankovic.
“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,” he added.
Radcliffe was last seen in the HBO Max special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.