Daniel Radcliffe has become well known for his offbeat movie role choices since he hung up his wizard robes over a decade ago. From his naked equine Broadway stint in Equus to farty-corpse life rafts in Swiss Army Man, Radcliffe has really taken the time to make sure that no one can ever accuse him of being a one-trick sort of muggle.
Based on the trailer that Roku recently dropped, it’s already looking like his next role will fit perfectly on his eclectic resume.
Radcliffe plays the eternally bombastic, wild-haired entertainer “Weird Al” Yankovic in Roku’s new biopic of the star, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
The first trailer, produced by Funny Or Die and Tango, dropped at Roku’s first in-person NewFronts presentation on Tuesday. The original film about the parody artist’s life is billed as a “untold true story,” documenting Yankovic’s rise to fame, and his success with hits like “Amish Paradise” and “Eat It” — as well as his “torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle.”
Weird is being marketed as less of a serious biopic and more of a scripted mockumentary, befitting the nature of Yankovic’s career. The production is “spoofing tropes that run rampant in self-important biopics.”
In the trailer, Radcliffe can be seen taking a swig from a bottle on stage, bare chested, and spitting it into the air. Various costumes that fans will recognize from Yankovic’s music videos show up in the one-minute teaser, accompanied by his song “Like a Surgeon.” The packed rows of screaming fans shown are no exaggeration on the crowds that a Yankovic concert can draw, though the appearance of three accordions from nowhere at his mere suggestion is, you have to hope, a bit of fun artistic license—the best thing about the trailer is the way that it feels wholly Yankovic, though, even with (a convincingly buff and mustachioed) Radcliffe in the titular role.
Watch the full trailer below!
Weird also stars Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld) as Madonna, Rainn Wilson (The Office) as radio broadcaster Dr. Demento, and Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Easttown) and Toby Huss (King of the Hill) as Yankovic’s parents, Mary and Nick.
Yankovic is the best-selling comedy recording artist of all time, as well as being a five-time Grammy winner. His 2014 album Mandatory Fun was the first comedy album in history to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Known for his trademark Hawaiian shirts, big hair, and expressive face, Yankovic has produced more than 150 songs including “White & Nerdy,” “Another One Rides the Bus,” and “Smells Like Nirvana.”
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