Here are all of the details we know so far regarding Daniel Radcliffe's Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Rising to fame through the 1980s, "Weird Al" Yankovic has spent decades tormenting popular music artists by turning their most beloved songs into comedy anthems. From "Amish Paradise" to "Smells Like Nirvana," Yankovic achieved chart renown for his musical parodies, while his pop culture status led to film cameos in the Naked Gun franchise, Bill & Ted Face The Music, and much more. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story finally brings the musician's own tale to the big screen.
"Weird Al" himself co-wrote Weird: The Al Yankovic Story alongside Eric Appel, who also assumes directorial duties. Although Weird: The Al Yankovic Story wasn't officially announced until January 2022, the initial concept derives from a 2010 Funny Or Die gag trailer also directed by Appel, and also titled "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story." In a couldn't-be-more-appropriate example of life imitating art, that fictional movie has now become a reality, with Funny Or Die Studios partnering with Tango for the production.
With Weird: The Al Yankovic story gathering hype ahead of its impending release, here's everything we know about the unconventional "Weird Al" biopic, and how it'll show fans the person behind the polka.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Release Date
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is confirmed for release on November 4, 2022, and will premiere as a Roku Channel original, exclusively available to stream for free.
Will Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Be Released In Theaters?
Despite premiering as a Roku Channel exclusive, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story boasts a hugely impressive cast and is courting enough attention to prompt questions of whether a theatrical release may be viable. At the time of writing, no plans for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story to hit theaters have been announced. A limited cinema release may be unveiled closer to November 4, but Roku is the only place to get your "Weird Al" biopic fix as things stand.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Cast
Daniel Radcliffe, the great Harry Potter himself, is cast in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story's title role, swapping robes and wands for loud shirts and a mustache. Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Easttown) and Toby Huss (King of the Hill) play Al's mother and father, respectively, and they'll be joined by actors depicting various famous figures from the worlds of music and pop culture. Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld) becomes Madonna, Quinta Brunson is Oprah Winfrey, James Preston Rogers turns into wrestler Hulk Hogan, and Rainn Wilson (The Office) portrays Dr. Demento."Weird Al" Yankovic's long-serving bass player, Steve Jay, will be brought to life by Spencer Treat Clark (Agents of SHIELD).
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Plot Details
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story promises to follow its satirical subject from early childhood (hence the parents) through to his early career (hence the Madonna), but as you might expect from a project involving "Weird Al" Yankovic, the premise is far from straightforward. Eschewing the limitations of a traditional biopic, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will take some, er... creative liberties with Al's origin for the purposes of entertainment, blending elements of real life with outright comedy. Roku's initial press release teased a tongue-in-cheek interpretation of the biopic format, and references to "celebrity love affairs" and a "famously depraved lifestyle" confirm Weird: The Al Yankovic Story won't let the truth stop audiences having a good time.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Trailer
Set to "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Like A Surgeon," the teaser trailer for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story reveals Daniel Radcliffe's uncanny costume and hairstyle, as well as his impressive Yankovic accent. Although barely a minute long, the clip shows off an irreverent, exaggerated humor, while also promising a touching story of the world's most unusual rockstar rising to fame despite the odds stacked against him. Expect musical classics given a whole new life, quirky and offbeat humor, and plenty of Daniel Radcliffe's bare chest when Weird: The Al Yankovic Story completes its 10-year-plus journey.
