Antoine Dodson Teams With Viral Celebs for “Rick Roll” Movie
With the Internet creating stars at the speed of DSL, it was a matter of time before those figures transferred stardom from the computer screen to the big screen. And it looks like that may be happening. Billboard.com reports that a collection of Web stars, including Antoine Dodson, are making a film.
More than a half-dozen YouTube stars have been gathered by producer Andrew Fischer for The Chronicles of Rick Roll. Describing the film as an “epic comedy,” Fischer has released a trailer while still shooting. “The next trailer will show that it’s not some giant, elaborate prank,” he told Billboard.
The film stars Antoine Dodson, known for the “Bed Intruder Song,” Bear Vasquez ("Double Rainbow Guy"), Brian Collins ("Boom Goes the Dynamite"), Ben Schulz ("Leeroy Jenkins"), Gary Brolsma ("Numa Numa"), and Stephen and Jack Quire ("Greatest Freakout Ever"). Together they account for hundreds of millions of YouTube views. And Dodson, after getting 67 million views for his Youtube hit, is reportedly taping a reality show.
Fischer is filming in high-definition digital and hopes for a theatrical release, but has not secured distribution. The Colorado-based marketing firm NURV, of which Fischer is CEO, is producing the film.
"Our goal is to utilize the fan base and the celebrity status that these household names have, even though they're not in Hollywood, in order to produce something that maybe changes the way Hollywood looks at casting," says Fischer.
Fischer says he would welcome cameos from more Internet stars.
Image: Taylor Hill/Getty Images