FIRST LOOK! Daniel Radcliffe's dramatic movie makeover

By Eleanor Young on Tuesday 20 March 2012

Rex Features

Daniel Radcliffe, is that really you? We could hardly believe our eyes earlier today when new snaps of former Harry Potter star Mr Radcliffe landed on the Mc.co.uk desk.

The actor has been hard at work on the set of new movie Kill Your Darlings, and he's never look more different.

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: CAREER IN PICTURES

A dramatic movie makeover if ever we saw one, Dan has swapped his Potter specs for horn rimmed glasses and his Hogwarts robes for tweed to take on the new role, as gay poet Allen Ginsberg.

It's thought the movie, written and directed by John Krokidas, will be based on real events from the American Beat Generation movement, telling the story of the relationship between Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and Lucien Carr.

Ginsberg was a leading figure of the Beat in 1950s New York, a movement that was highly critical of US materialism, censorship and sexual repression.

His friendship with fellow writer Kerouac began when the men were introduced to Ginsberg's Columbia room-mate C! arr, who was later sentenced to first-degree manslaughter in the killing of David Kammerer.

So far, so dramatic!

According to insiders, Jesse Eisenberg was originally cast in the leading role, with Dan swapped in at the last minute, while Dane DeHaan, Elizabeth Olsen, Kyra Sedgwick and Jack Huston will also star.

And Radcliffe couldn't be more excited to take on the challenging part. 'I am very, very enthused for that script and that young director,' he gushed to MTV last year.

Unfortunately we're in for quite a wait, as the film won't hit screens until 2013.

What are your thoughts on Mr Radcliffe's movie makeover? Hot or not? Let us know in the comments box below

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Tuesday 20 March 2012