Emmy-nominated actress Quinta Brunson is playing Oprah Winfrey in Roku’s upcoming movie “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” She will be working alongside Daniel Radcliffe (“Swiss Army Man”), who plays the always outrageous Weird Al Yankovic.
Along with Radcliffe, Brunson joins a slew of other big names portraying pop culture icons. So far we know Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”) will be playing pop singer Madonna. Rainn Wilson (“The Office”) will portray legendary radio broadcaster Dr. Demento. Julianne Nicholson (“I, Tonya”) and Toby Huss (“Halt and Catch Fire”) are cast as Mary and Nick Yankovic, Weird Al’s parents.
Eric Appel is directing. The movie bills itself as “the unexaggerated true story about the greatest musician of our time.”
“Wearing the Hawaiian shirt is a huge responsibility that I don’t take lightly,” Radcliffe told People in February “and I’m honored to finally share with the world the absolutely 100 percent unassailably true story of Weird Al’s depraved and scandalous life.”
The trailer only hammers home how incredibly authentic and true this movie will be! “From a conventional upbringing where playing the accordion was a sin, Al rebelled and made his dream of changing the words to world-renowned songs come true,” the synopsis reads. “An instant success and sex symbol, Al lives an excessive lifestyle and pursues an infamous romance that nearly destroys him.”
If co-writing it wasn’t enough of a blessing, Yankovic said he is “absolutely thrilled that Daniel Radcliffe will be portraying” him. He jokingly added “I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the role future generations will remember him for.”
So far Brunson seems to be nailing it as Oprah as well. The film is expected to hit Roku later this year.
