The first trailer for the upcoming Weird Al Yankovic biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe has been released. Here’s what the opening scenes of the film look like, and how Radcliffe does as Alfred Matthew Yankovic on the accordion.
About fame, love affairs and celebrities
Filming on Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story began earlier this year. The biopic is set to follow the musician and parodist’s life “from his rise to fame in the music industry to his love affairs with celebrities,” according to the synopsis.
Hawaiian shirts mean responsibility
The Harry Potter star told The Hollywood Reporter: “Wearing the Hawaiian shirt is a huge responsibility that I don’t take lightly. I’m honored to finally share the absolutely 100% true story of Weird Al’s depraved and scandalous life with the world.”
Check out the first trailer for Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story here:
‘Like A Virgin’ parody: Madonna provides the soundtrack
Recently it became known that Madonna also appears in the script. Yankovic rephrased her hit song “Like A Virgin” to “Like A Surgeon” after the “Queen of Pop” publicly suggested the parody herself. The Yankovic version of the song can be heard in the teaser trailer.
On the timing of the film, which has yet to be released, the musician said: “When my last film, UHF, came out in 1989, I made a solemn promise to my fans that I would release a major motion picture every 33 years. Like clockwork. I’m very happy that we’re sticking to the schedule.”
Yankovic is excited about Daniel Radcliffe
Yankovic said he was “absolutely thrilled that Daniel Radcliffe will be portraying me in the film.” He has “not the slightest doubt that this is the role for which future generations will remember him.” Radcliffe himself recently announced that Rihanna was indirectly involved in his casting: More than a decade ago, the actor would have Graham Norton Show” performed a rendition of Yankovic’s “The Elements” alongside a “confused” Rihanna.
In Radcliffe’s imagination, “Al saw that and thought, ‘This guy might have it.'” Lucky for him that he was selected by Yankovic. He could now take the accordion lessons he received from the musician “to his grave”.
+++ This article first appeared on rollingstone.de +++