How Daniel Radcliffe and Evan Rachel Wood Became Weird Al and Madonna

A movie about the life of "Weird Al" Yankovic was never going to play like any traditional biopic you've ever seen before, but it was particularly inspired to cast 'Harry Potter' himself, Daniel Radcliffe, as the pop star comedian and Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna. The new film 'Weird' traces Yankovic's life - sort of - from his youth, when he first discovered the accordion, to his famed musical career, with plenty of exaggerated (and fictional) detours along the way. We sat down with Radcliffe and Wood to talk about how they tapped into their real-life counterparts, beginning with their familiarity with Madonna's and Weird Al's music, and how they reacted to reading the script for the first time. They talk about the power of the costuming, performing an acrobatic make-out scene after just one meeting together, and working with other comedic legends. Plus, Radcliffe explains how he learned to play the accordion when he didn't have to, and what it was like getting lessons from Yankovic himself.
► Learn more: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/weir...
Subscribe to the channel and click the bell icon to be notified of new videos: bit.ly/2EwugLH
Music:
Courtesy of Extreme Music
Watch More:
► Rotten Tomatoes Originals: bit.ly/2D3sipV
► Fresh New Clips: bit.ly/3mJePrv
► Hot New Trailers: bit.ly/2qThrsF
► New TV This Week: bit.ly/3Or3I2w
From original shows, entertainment discussions, and celebrity interviews to Tomatometer score reveals, ROTTEN TOMATOES is your insider’s guide to must-see movies and TV.

[@AndrewGrabowski]

This is such a wholesome interview, it’s clear that the two of them share such a fond appreciation of Weird Al, Madonna, and each other. Makes me even more excited to see the film!!

[@iconoclast137]

absolutely!

[@JB-wy8fc]

I wouldn't use the word wholesome to describe Evan seen as she lies about SA

[@lindsay33333]

Weird AL needs to play Harry Potter

[@sketchur]

That would be funny as a short video. :)

[@troychriscarretas2657]

Yeah

[@LiminalVoices]

But, really should he tho?

[@LiminalVoices]

Look, I'm all for Al parodying, literally, anyone. But his schtick, for the most part, is parodying other muscians. Not fictional young wizards. So, I question the need.

[@lindsay33333]

@@LiminalVoices why not? That is the question.

[@peekaboots01]

Rachel really did nail Madonna's 1980s voice.

[@hididdleydee]

ERW NAILED Madonna’s voice, inflection, mannerisms!😮

[@Static-ash]

I just watched Al on Fallon and he said he didn't know Evan could sing and ruefully watched her portrayal of Madonna on Fallon because they didn't capitalize on that aspect of her talent! She's great, I love her

[@ladyapollia2]

Omg that’s such a tragedy! I can’t believe none of the staff had watched Across the Universe - Evan is an INCREDIBLE singer!!

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

She is incredible in Across The Universe!

[@ericsmith1508]

I just finished watching it about an hour ago. It was such an awesome film! It was everything you would expect a biopic parody about and from the mind of Weird Al to be! This may well be one of the funniest films of all time! Seriously. I mean that. Now I've been a Weird Al fan for years, so I can only see and appreciate it from that perspective. So, I don't know how much enjoyment someone would get if they aren't a fan or don't really have a familiarity with his work, but I think it is able to stand on its own as just a genuinely funny movie. It was really sad at the end though, finding out about Al Yankovic's tragic passing... R.I.P. Weird Al! 1985 was far too soon to lose such a talent!

[@RositaJones1988]

It was really funny. I’ve only heard a few weird Al songs but am a huge Daniel Radcliffe fan. It was so good!😊

[@progKansas]

Can I watch it other than Roku?

[@ericsmith1508]

@@progKansas I don't think so. I can't say that with absolute certainty, but I think it was made by Roku. A Roku "original" if you will.

[@MarcKloos]

@@progKansas PM me 😉

[@agentorange81]

I tell people this movie is amazing, its like hard to explain , and most didnt expect a parody lol

[@ToniGlick]

I feel like Weird Al has always lived his best life.

[@te9591]

I feel like Weird Al is a jokester/swashbuckler type from the 1700s.

[@CHIIIEEEEEEEEFFFFSSS]

I just finished the movie. I went in with high hopes, and was still pleasantly surprised. My face hurt from laughing at one point, and the Like A Surgeon concert scene was perfect.

[@naurrrre]

it was so random, didn’t expect the end lmao weird al gone too soon

[@kle2217]

Loved the post end scene. It was hilarious! Madonna is one of the greatest cinema villains in movie history. Props to to Evan Rachel Wood. I hope Radcliffe continues to take on interesting roles. He's very good at it and has grown as an actor since Harry Potter.

[@LittleRedMoon16]

She looks so good portraying Madonna

[@thesin573]

No one Cares about your opinion, idiot

[@jeffreyheller5530]

Pro tip- a music bed is not necessary for these interviews. If it’s only a 1-3 minute clip, it can help give it some immediate energy, but if a viewer is committing to a 15 minute video, they are not someone that needs a music bed to keep their interest. Trust your content.

[@floridaman6982]

It was a bit too loud, might be better if they took it down a notch

[@CrystalCat24]

Great advice!!

[@VO_JayRedding]

I was a huge Al fan when I was a kid, and I've never been a fan of her. They did an amazing job. They really nailed these characters. And Jack Black sounded just like Wolfman Jack. This was a great movie. I seriously don't think I've laughed as hard as I did in years.

[@michaelsoldierworks1]

I'm so happy for these two to get to have such a fun experience! What a joyous interview. I can't believe clips made me laugh this hard already lol!!

[@selispeks]

2 of my childhood favorites in a movie together. My life has come full circle lol

[@juliemcinnis3472]

I’m going to preorder for this movie. Two of my favourite artists Madonna and Weird Al. Can’t wait.

[@Ubernerd3000]

Weird Al doing for musical biopics the same thing he has done with pop music and performers is brilliant; DR handled his business very well, but Madonna’s voice coming out of ERW was mind-blowing...and just so much of a good time...

[@leolopez_0728]

Evan Rachel Wood is a freak of nature and an AMAZING singer! It's a pity that she did not sing in this movie (because of madonna's copyrights) but she is incredible, love her! ❣

[@jimwoodard64]

Having grown up with Weird Al on the radio (His music was 'new' when I was a teen), and being a rabid fan, I appreciated this movie completely. I indoctrinated my children and they met Al twice and got to sit on his bus for a photo in Albany, NY when they were little. That impressed them immensely as Al was as genuine back stage as he was on stage. I'd seen him so many times since the 70's, and as a fellow musician, I was always shocked that the same guys (Jim, Steve, and Bermuda) have been there along the way. He even added a keyboard player later who is still with him. That's a track record most bands, much less solo musicians can't match. This is a must see movie for people of all ages.

[@agentorange81]

Even as a kid it blew my mind just how much talent is involved in the music i guess many think its a repeat track nooo these guys recreate exactly

[@bobd9775]

Weird Al, what a showman. One of the best concerts I have been to.

[@S1L3NTG4M3R]

Wow - - I need to see this... can't wait!

[@stephanpartipilollc]

It's so warming to see especially Evan Rachel Wood laughing and happy and winning

[@dadgrade7837]

I’m so ready for this movie!

[@sindhv363]

Ok Daniel and Evan got weird as hell and would love to see how weird the movie gets

[@NickBradford-ck7ry]

Can't wait for this movie!!!!

[@KennethGottfried]

Literally one of the best films in the past 10 years. A must watch. I would love a sequel to UHF

[@acnyc4601]

I Love The Appreciation for Madonna and Al

[@pennyc11]

Weird Al is the party animal we all want to have. Just Cyndi Lauper we just want to have fun. Good fun. No drugs a little booze and dance, dance, dance...😁

[@jevinday]

I really wasn't expecting to like this film as much as I did. It is incredibly funny and really well written as they mentioned

[@knucklesmcgirk7190]

Daniel if you ever read this for some reason some day well not that you probably haven't before but HOLY $H!+ you did an amazing job acting in that movie! I love it! The scene that you rescue Madonna from Escobar makes me laugh every time! 😂 Weird Al's music saved me as a kid and this movie as an adult well it will definitely help keep me going! I really hope it gets a DVD and/or Blue Ray release. This movie deserves a place on the Shelf of Greatness!

[@carolzerucha7429]

Excellent movie!! Lots of fun! I love seeing Dan in quirky roles-they seem to be his specialty now, and good on him. Evan is wonderful too, and I love all of her work!❤️❤️

[@PostPandemicMadonna]

Madonna is so charismatic i would watch every movie about her.

[@wuzi7049]

I finally saw the movie and it was so great! It's quality reminds me of walk hard. It's so good, I love it!

[@MrigyankaChakravartymrigs]

From the snippets of the movie that I can see in the interview, DR did just amazing... He has evolved as a comedy actor as well and Evan Rachel as Madonna?! Amazing. Where can I even watch this movie? I don't think it's on Netflix or Disney hotstar.

[@mexic8l]

Hello there! Have you found out yet where to watch it?

[@johnharris6655]

Radcliffe deserves an Oscar nod.

[@ChubbyMermaid]

Awesome, they seem genuinely like cool people to hang out with.

[@ObsidianContraption]

Best movie of 2022, and it came out on Roku

[@KellieAnn71]

6:40 Looks like Al made a few cameos...

[@agentorange81]

I never thought something would top UHF but here we are cause weird is the best movie ive saw in years , don't ask how idk its mysterious

[@renewd]

She can also sing just like Madonna which she demonstrates on Jimmy Fallon show(on youtube).

[@jerbear7952]

Daniel: I'd love to come hang out guys, I'm just so busy. I have to be at Al's house for accordion lessons at 1:30 and then Rachels gonna dress up like Madonna and we are going to make out for a bit.

[@sarahleach9997]

Congrats to the cast and crew and to weird al for the Emmy award

[@chargerdave2046]

Fully enjoyed the movie!!!

[@reinaldothecringemaster3728]

Hello I have subscribed to your KZbin channel

[@ClubCatJohnKite]

Radcliffe should play Lennon in a Weird Al video.

[@sleepinglionarchives]

This movie was a joy and they are fantastic in it

[@FHB71]

ERW is an acting genius. Period. That's the comment.

[@crystal25288]

They did an amazing job 🥰🤣❤️

[@no1nestandsalone387]

I remember being forced to watch VHF as a kid and still don’t forget the stupid Spatula city bit 😂

[@rabit818]

Went to art school in the eighties and I am the only student who liked Weird Al while everybody else are into the Velvet Underground

[@no1nestandsalone387]

Hey the velvet underground is amazing! But so is weird Al !

[@shable1436]

I just saw the yeti commercial

[@alexcupo5346]

I wonder if we’ll see a Leslie Nelson cameo in the movie?

[@eily_b]

Evan starting to look like Darryl Hannah...

[@sketchur]

Splash 2, anyone???

[@moreach13]

Fun movie! I even (just now) bought an accordion for my collection of dolls! It's all their fault!

[@reilley26]

I thought this movie was already out

[@MarkLangdahl]

I think I was persuaded that I've got to see this movie when I saw Al set down the dog in the punch bowl...

[@radamschannel6883]

My Gosh...do we really need social media..lol

[@emmiewilliams7546]

Was That Dr Demento?..Oh Rain Wilson makes sense.

[@teslarob4790]

This movie seriously should have had a theatrical release. It has all the qualities of an instant classic.

[@Thulgore]

The filmed this in 18 days??????????????????????

[@birdbangbobaruni]

Becoming Weird Al is he is first on the list

[@PREMKUMAR-qr2pq]

Weird al movie is a master piece in paraday way ........

[@augustusmilligan9244]

I was neither a fan or a (non-fan?) of Evan Rachel Wood before watching "Weird...". I am a fan after. She steals the movie.

[@chriseggroll]

I thought it was a great movie, probably the funniest I've seen this year!

[@DW-nb2zc]

You get a 100%! You get a 100%! (Rotten Tomatoes) Uh, now where's our money?

[@madeyed2702]

This is sooooo unfair -- I can't watch it cause I don't have access to it 😭😭

[@peekaboots01]

It's on Roku

[@luciawilliams2504]

It was my birthday today! 😇

[@mayaharrison3138]

cooool

[@elemenopi4827]

damn, ERW is so smart.

[@Ciansaunders201]

Evan Rachel looks like weird Al more than Daniel Radcliffe

[@mexic8l]

Facts!

[@jmjanousek]

This makes me Trigger Happy

[@royster7170]

What's crazy is she looks more like Madonna, than Madonna.

[@yans.3908]

Weirdly, I think Evan Rachel Wood looks more like Madonna righ there than in the movie almost... 🤣

[@Jude74]

He should also play Bruno Mars because he looked like a pale version of him more than “Weird Al” Yankovic.

[@marianaobregon6665]

🌹💗💗😄💋💋💗💋🌹

[@javierleiva8965]

Evan rachel wood ❤ ❤ 🤍 ❤ 🖤 🤍 💚 💙 🧡 ❤ 🖤 🤍 💚

[@juanpablosaenz9037]

Shakira is the daughter of Madonna and Al Yankovic.

[@unstoppableExodia]

Ohhhh now i understand why she’s born in Colombia. What a gal tho

[@penguinista]

Of course she can play an awesome Madonna, they just have to reprogram her.

[@marianaobregon6665]

😃😃🌹😄😄😃😃💋

[@marianaobregon6665]

Masta😄😄🌹

[@marianaobregon6665]

😭😭Fvoveaeto😄😄

[@dmontes133]

Evan is so much prettier than Madonna ever was!

[@marianaobregon6665]

💋💋🌹

[@Alsier72712]

Wait, it's a parody?

[@crystal25288]

It's so funny 🤣

[@JFmK-sh5nh]

Weird Al is a legendary performer! ERW is gorgeous. Whatshisname looks like a troll.

[@marianaobregon6665]

Cmanjamta💋mko

[@itayeldad3317]

I don't like that evan Rachel wood is kissing her relative Elijah in that movie

[@flouserschird]

🤔🤔🤔

[@gdoora2350]

Oh look the FBI agent 😍

[@marianaobregon6665]

Cbemko😄boklbo😄2💋💋💋💗💗💗😭😄😄

[@ericinla65]

WASN'T WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE - I thought it be more a docu-drama and not just a huge joke.

[@vivianworden2706]

What would Madonna think of this film? Considering her desperate attempts to remain relevant. She should be glad as hell.

[@vanessac8193]

Did Madonna sleep with your dog and then OD it on Columbian cocaine?

[@rikosborne1212]

Maybe this will give her another "Weird Al Bump" :D You've also reminded me of a line from MC Frontalot's song, "Braggadocio": "Someday I'll be both revered and passé - like Madonna."

[@marianaobregon6665]

Ebtepr😿♥️💖

[@marianaobregon6665]

EsiaDtoplca

[@marianaobregon6665]

♥️♥️😍💋💋💋

[@spiderliliez]

People hating on Evan.. Jesus Christ, yall have no life seriously, just judging and picking on people for telling the truth.

[@MammaB1120]

Yeah your right. She's definitely and FBI agent 👌👍

[@Jeymez]

@@MammaB1120 she's an actress not a FBI agent, where you get that from.

[@MammaB1120]

@@Jeymez I got it from the FBI letter she forged for family court in the custody case with her ex husband

[@cordial5557]

Uhh have you been living under a rock have you been hearing about what Evan did to Marilyn Manson and Kobe Bryant and Jamie bell she's just trash and you are supporting her

[@oblivionptx9058]

Well, if you actually did some research on everything she's done and said, you'd know why we're, not hating on her, just telling the truth. But yeah what I do hate about her is the fact that she thinks she can just ruin a man's life and get away with it.

[@bluefishjoe]

I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s. Her videos were fun. She’s not that great. I don’t get it. She was a pop star of the time. She was like the rest of them. She needed to do certain things to stay relevant and that didn’t even help.

[@Finthebox]

Yo Dan you better hurry up and marry that girl..

[@GonkThePowerDroid]

Which prison did Daniel escape from?

[@kristinporter918]

9:15 Daniel is so over listening to her ramble.

[@pjdexter168]

This woman is the new Amber Heard, her lies are shameful

[@Jeymez]

she hasn't lied about anything

[@pjdexter168]

@@Jeymez That's what Amber Heard said, and look how that turned out lol.

[@lisalegrand2186]

Evan is no Madonna

[@spiderliliez]

Get over it.

[@Jeymez]

no one said she was, she's playing as her.

[@MarcyFilms]

She's the version of Madonna that al made. Al wasn't even an accurate al and it was on purpose. Al Yankovic is so clever that he, the guy who makes parodies of songs, made a parody bio pic about himself. After all... its supposed to be "weird", so that's why I respect it for what it is.

[@oblivionptx9058]

It's always sad seeing a good person and actor (like Daniel), working with a narcissist liar (Evan). It's just sad. It's like seeing Jason Momoa and Amber Turd (Not to mention Evan supports Amber and they're friends, but yeah) This woman literally impersonated an FBI agent to ruin a man's life but again, because she's a woman, she's a "saint". When will this world wake up? Repeating the same mistake again and again. Fortunately, her lies are out there for everyone to see, if they care enough.

[@cordial5557]

Amber and Evan don't deserve anything good in there lives there just trashy so called "actress" and after what amber did to johnny and after what happened to Marilyn Manson and Evan calling Kobe a rapist there just bad

[@oblivionptx9058]

@@cordial5557 Exactly, and it's terrible seeing people claiming that they are "heroes". These two women would sell any of their fans to anyone for a good bunch of money. Evan is just a better actress than Amber, but that, is what makes her even more dangerous. But truth will always prevail. Their lies are already out there

[@Jeymez]

there are no lies, stay off the internet. there's no proof of an FBI impersonation, because Manson and Evan would've appeared in court by now, just like Johnny and Amber did. Evan and Manson were not right for each other, but if she's a saint he must be one to.

[@cordial5557]

@@Jeymez it's hard to know what is real and what's fake out there I'm surprised that Evan didn't try to ruin Zach villa's career or say bad things about him she doesn't matter she doesn't care about anyone or anything she's just a fake and she doesn't deserve fame people like her should be taken down permanently I'm surprised someone hasn't broken there jaws or worse who needs them

[@cordial5557]

@@oblivionptx9058 there not heroes they should just go to jail and riot they should be forgotten I think that they deserve to suffer instead of making other famous people suffer they don't know who there gonna get mad and if they do then it's game over for both of them

[@livequality4578]

Weird Al movie was good but Daniel Radcliffe will forever suck for turning on J.K. Rowling

[@theprimo100]

nah, that makes him infinitely better.

[@livequality4578]

@@theprimo100 LOL, noooo. Being token and woke makes nobody "infinitely better"...it makes them cowards submissive to groupthink.

[@markspc1285]

​@@livequality4578no, jk Rowling is a horrific person.

[@livequality4578]

@@markspc1285 J.K. Rowling is a hero for exposing demonic perverts and the people like you who enable them.

[@HuizacheProducciones]

Marilyn Manson

[@oblivionptx9058]

🖤🖤🤘🏻