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In welcome, light-hearted news this week it has been announced that Daniel Radcliffe, best known for playing Harry Potter, will be portraying ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic in an upcoming biopic of the comedy singer.
Yankovic enjoyed huge success throughout the 1980s and 90s by creating spoof versions of established songs by altering the lyrics, and has enjoyed a cult following over the years for his 150+ songs. Even winning Grammy awards for his musical adaptations that included notable parodies like Eat It, Amish Paradise, and Like A Surgeon, new fans will be able to grasp Yankovic’s winning formula as he is introduced to the young generation.
It’s been announced that production on Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will start in February 2022 and will be based in Los Angeles, and will be produced by the company ‘Funny Or Die’, which belongs to Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Set to stream on the Roku service, the film’s writers Yankovic and Eric Appel are excited about getting the project underway, with Yankovic saying:
“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. And 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.”
While Appel expressed a similar statement at the surrealist project, explaining:
“When Weird Al first sat me down against my will and told me his life story, I didn’t believe any of it, but I knew that we had to make a movie about it.”
There was originally a ‘Funny or Die’ sketch of the same name back in 2010, perhaps sparking the inspiration for the real upcoming feature film.
Additionally, the singer is embarking on a real life comically-titled US tour in 2022, The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. Embarking in April and running until October, the tour consists of 133 shows including a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Speaking of his excitement at the upcoming shows, Weird Al said:
“I’ve loved doing every single incarnation of my live show, but honestly the Vanity tour is the most fun I’ve ever had on stage so I’ve been dying to get back out there and torture everybody with it once again!”
The official website explains that the 2022 tour is a little different:
Please note: this is a scaled-down tour with limited production (no costumes, props, or video screens) in smaller theatres and more intimate settings, and Al’s setlist will be comprised almost entirely of his original (non-parody) songs.
The special guest is listed as Emo Philips, and the tour dates and information at present include almost every day from 26th April when the tour kicks off in Poughkeepsie, New York, until the culmination in the impressive Carnegie Hall on 29th October.
View the full dates, tour and ticket information on the Weird Al website
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Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
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