Weird Al Yankovic – Movie Smack Talk

The biopic genre is about to get real weird with the upcoming film, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

The movie was filmed last year in Los Angeles. News broke when people noticed Daniel Radcliffe walking around town sporting a frizzy-haired wig and a pretty epic mustache. The ‘Harry Potter‘ actor stars in this movie as “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Roku released the first teaser trailer for the film this week, and yes, it features an accordion.

The movie is billed as a ‘untold true story’ of Yankovic, documenting ‘Weird Al’s’ rise to fame with early hits like ‘Eat It’ and ‘Like a Surgeon’ — as well as his ‘torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle.’ It’s really more of a scripted mockumentary, spoofing tropes that run rampant in self-important biopics.

Of course a Weird Al biopic would be a parody of the genre itself. Would he really have it any other way?

In addition to Radcliffe, this flick stars Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Julianne Nicholson and Toby Huss.

It’ll stream on the Roku Channel this fall, but no specific release date has been set as of yet. We’ll keep you posted.

Check out the trailer below…

Here’s some strange news for your Tuesday morning, Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to star as Weird Al Yankovic in an upcoming biopic, which is being produced by Roku. Yes, it’s a Roku original movie.

It’ll be Roku’s first original biopic and will be available to stream exclusively on the Roku Channel. In addition to Roku, the project is being produced by Funny or Die and Tango.

The official synopsis reads:

The biopic 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.

I’m not sure how I feel about watching Weird Al’s “torrid” celebrity love affairs, but hey, let’s test it out. I’m assuming that line was said in jest, though.

Yankovic co-wrote the script with Eric Appel, who is also set to direct the film. In a statement to the media, the 62-year-old singer-comedian had this to say…

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.

Production on the film is set to begin in February in Los Angeles.