The Harry Potter Theme Almost Got The Weird Al Yankovic Treatment
Throughout the last 40 years, "Weird Al" Yankovic has made a career out of taking some of the world's most popular songs and spinning them into satirical, absurdist parodies. As such, it should come as no surprise whatsoever that Yankovic's self-titled biopic "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story," is itself a parody of other biopics and musicals, chock-full of celebrity cameos and outrageous gags.
Loosely based on Yankovic's actual life story, the film tells the story of how a young Al Yankovic overcame his family's hatred for the accordion and went on to captivate the world with his song parodies. Eventually, "Weird" shows him becoming the most acclaimed and successful artist of all time. Playing Yankovic in this satirical look at his life and career is none other than "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe, of whom the singer said, "I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the role future generations will remember him for" (via Rolling Stone).
Although a collaboration between The Boy Who Lived and "Weird Al" might seem like something out of a particularly odd fever dream, it's worth noting that Yankovic once tried to create a parody of a famous "Harry Potter" song.
Yankovic's Harry Potter parody was rejected by Warner Brothers
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Weird Al" Yankovic actually asked Warner Bros. if he could parody the iconic "Harry Potter" theme music (which is titled "Hedwig's Theme") and was swiftly rejected.
"I approached [Warner Brothers] just to get a general blessing like, 'Hey, I'd like to do a "Harry Potter" parody.' And I think they said no, or they never responded or whatever," Yankovic explained. "But sometimes when you're dealing with franchises, and you ask permission, you know, there's so many people that can say no, and they usually do." The musician said he learned his lesson, and now whenever he deals with franchises he simply makes the parody first and asks for forgiveness later.
Both Yankovic and Daniel Radcliffe recognize the irony in Yankovic being rejected by Warner Brothers and later casting Radcliffe to play himself — with Yankovic joking that "Weird" is the last movie of the "Harry Potter" franchise, and Radcliffe suggesting that this entire film was only made for Yankovic to make his very own "Harry Potter" parody film. Although we'll perhaps never get to hear what Yankovic's "Hedwig's Theme" parody might have sounded like, it's interesting to think about Radcliffe's involvement in the role knowing Yankovic's history with the franchise.