Daniel Radcliffe Plays Much Sexier Allen Ginsberg (Set Pictures)

Like James Franco before him, Radcliffe will give the legendary Beat poet an aesthetic upgrade

The casting gods continue to smile on Allen Ginsberg. 

Despite bearing only a tenuous physical resemblance to the legendary Beat poet, Daniel Radcliffe will play Ginsberg in the upcoming thriller "Kill Your Darlings." 

Based on a series of set pictures that come via the Huffington Post, Radcliffe will spot a curly mop top and some spectacles in an attempt to bridge the appearance gap. 

The film focuses on a murder trial involving Ginsberg and his fellow Beat Generation member, Lucien Carr. Carr was charged with second-degree murder in 1944 for stabbing his former English teacher to death. 

Also read: 'James Dean' Star James Franco Options Sal Mineo Biography

Radcliffe is not the only good-looking young star to have played the author. James Franco also played Ginsberg in 2010's "Howl," which focused on a landmark obscenity trial involving the titular poem.

And Tom Sturridge, the fans' choice to play Edward Cullen in "Twilight" before Robert Pattinson was tapped, takes on Ginsberg in the upcoming adaptation of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road."

Nor is it the first time that historical figures have been prettied up for the big screen. Who can forget "Good Night and Good Luck" star George Clooney essaying the role of Fred Friendly, the legendary CBS News producer who was no one's idea of a sex symbol, or Ralph Fiennes playing a much more dashing version of Charles Van Doren in "Quiz Show." 

The gorgeous Charlize Theron, of course, was tasked with playing the aesthetically challenged serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster." Yet she transformed herself with the help of makeup, a set of false teeth and a lot of potato chips. 

To most people, Ginsberg looked more like David Cross gone fabulously to seed than he did Radcliffe or Franco.

By concentrating on Ginsberg's younger years (pictured above), Hollywood has avoided the trap of having to find a bald and pudgy character actor to headline its movie. 

Should producers go that route and depict Ginsberg in his twilight years, they would be wise to cast Fred Melamed, who so memorably played the oleaginous Sy Ableman in the Coen Brothers' "A Serious Man."

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