Daniel Radcliffe to Play ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic in Biopic

Daniel Radcliffe will star in the title role of WEIRD: The Weird Al Yankovic Story.

The film, which is now in the works at Funny Or Die, will focus on the life and career of award-winning musician “Weird Al” Yankovic, who is known for his cutting pop culture parodies.

“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. “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.”

Left: ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic. Right: Daniel Radcliffe. (Image credit: Left – JC Olivera / Stringer / Getty, Right – Isabel Infantes – PA Images / Contributor / Getty)

The biopic, which will star Radcliffe as Yankovic himself, “holds nothing back”. ” 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,” reads the official synopsis. “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.”

“Weird Al” Yankovic has won five Grammy awards during his career, in which he’s recorded more than 150 parodies and original songs. He even took over as Editor-in-chief of MAD magazine for a single issue.

“I am excited that my first project as the owner of Funny Or Die Studios is to help bring the story of ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic to the screen,” said executive producer and Funny Or Die boss, Henry Muñoz III.

“Weird Al is a comic genius and his impact on pop culture, his mastery of the music video, his award-winning music and his incredible life are a perfect fit for the talented producers at FOD,” he added. “We are honored to partner with Roku, Tango and our director Eric Appel on this important movie. WEIRD has brought together a weird and wonderful team of creative people, to tell the story of a man who has made people laugh and sing across the world.”

WEIRD: The Weird Al Yankovic Story is being written by “Weird Al” Yankovic himself, alongside Eric Appel, who will also direct the movie. Yankovic is also on board as producer along with Mike Farah, Joe Farrell and Whitney Hodack for Funny Or Die, as well as Tim Headington, Lia Buman and Max Silva for Tango. Eric Appel, Henry Muñoz III and Neil Shah are executive producers.

Production for WEIRD: The Weird Al Yankovic Story will begin in Los Angeles in February.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.