'Weird Al' Yankovic To Voice Batman Villain In New Animated Movie

Last year saw something of an inexplicable surge in popularity for veteran parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic, spurred on by his savvy use of the internet in releasing videos for his recent studio full-length Mandatory Fun and an appearance in celebrated educational comedy Drunk History. 

Now, Yankovic is ensuring he keeps up 2014's visible momentum by continuing to broaden his horizons, namely by signing on as a voice cast member for Batman Vs Robin, the animated follow-up to DC's Son Of Batman adaptation.

Yankovic will voice The Dollmaker, the most recent incarnation of whom was created in 2011 by writer Tony S. Daniel. It's this version that we'll see in the film — far from the earlier comics versions, both of whom used weaponised dolls, Daniel's Dollmaker, a man called Barton Mathis, is a gifted surgeon, the son of a cannibal (whose skin helps form the villain's creepy mask), and was responsible for cutting off the Joker's face as well as being a generally unsettling thorn in Batman's side ever since.

Batman Vs Robin also sees the return of Son Of Batman voice actors Jason O'Mara (Batman), Stuart Allan (Robin/Damian Wayne), Sean Maher (Nightwing) and David McCallum (Alfred). Newbies joining the cast alongside Yankovic include Jeremy Sisto (Talon, an assassin within nefarious organisation the Court Of Owls), Grey Griffin, Robin Atkin Downes and Peter Onorati. Although long-time Bat-voice Kevin Conroy — the iconic growl behind Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League and JLU, the Arkham games and a bunch of other Bat-projects — has hung up the cowl, he makes a guest appearance as Thomas Wayne, Bruce's father.

The film is directed by veteran storyboard artist Jay Olica, based on a comics script penned by celebrated Bat-scribe Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo. The movie will make its world premiere at this April's WonderCon; home-release details will follow in the near future.