Those who came of age in the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s are guaranteed to have heard of “Weird Al” Yankovic, an accordion player known for his humorous and infectious cover tunes. Whether it’s transforming Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” into a medical comedy with “Like a Surgeon,” or setting “Soon I’m going to be a Jedi” to the tune of “American Pie,” this charming eccentric will parody just about anything. This fall, Roku Channel will air Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, an intimate look at the bizarre life of “Weird Al.” Daniel Radcliffe, in a remarkably eerie performance, plays the iconic star in a new film. Both Evan Rachel Wood (in her debut appearance as Madonna) and Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary’s creator and star) in their roles as Oprah Winfrey can be seen for the first time in the teaser.
The preview not only highlights Weird Al’s “checkered background,” but also establishes the film’s humorous yet complex tone. The teaser also focuses on the musician’s friendship with Madonna and Dr Demento’s (Rainn Wilson, The Office) impact on his career. With his wildly curly hair and offbeat personality, Radcliffe is a dead ringer for Yankovic. The picture, directed by Eric Appel, looks like it could have more extravaganza than Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis. Weird brings together Yankovic’s trademark loud humour with a deeper insight into his life that audiences may not be familiar with to create a unique experience.
The film also has Julianne Nicholson (I, Tonya), Spencer Treat Clark (The Office), Dot-Marie Jones (Mama Bear), James Preston Rogers (Hulk Hogan), and Nick Yankovic (Weird Al) as his parents. Daniel Radcliffe, Wood, and Brunson all-star. Appel, who has appeared in several hilarious episodes (such as those of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl, and Silicon Valley), is an excellent choice to play the lead in such an exaggerated tale. He also co-wrote the film’s script alongside Yankovic and will be directing it.
From his “immediate fame and sex icon” status to the “infamous relationship that nearly destroyed him,” Weird, produced by Funny Or Die and Tango, is slated to examine every bizarre aspect of Yankovic’s life. This synopsis was likely written by Yankovic himself. The world premiere of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will take place in the Midnight Madness section of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8. The film will then become available to stream for free on The Roku Channel on November 4.