The official trailer for Better Man, a biopic about British pop icon Robbie Williams, has been released, and it offers a peculiar twist to the familiar music biopic genre. Directed by Aussie helmer Michael Gracey, best known for The Greatest Showman, the film portrays Williams through the lens of a CGI monkey, adding an unconventional narrative device to depict the star’s journey to fame. As a YouTube commenter amusingly wrote, “I didn’t expect a origin movie of Caesar’s father but here we are.” Take a look above.
The trailer introduces viewers to Williams’ early life, showcasing moments from his childhood and his rise to prominence as the youngest member of the boy band Take That. However, instead of seeing Williams himself, audiences are met with his monkey double, played by actor Jonno Davies (Hunters) through motion capture technology. This unusual artistic choice is acknowledged by Williams in the trailer’s narration, where he jokingly refers to himself as “a little less evolved.”
Beyond the visual oddities, the film is expected to follow the traditional rise-and-fall narrative seen in many biopics. Better Man covers Williams’ transition from boy-band sensation to solo superstar, a journey marked by record-breaking achievements, including 11 UK number-one albums and 13 Brit Awards. Despite his remarkable success, the film reportedly doesn’t shy away from Williams’ struggles with fame, addressing personal challenges such as drug use and some of his more controversial behaviour.
The Vision Behind the CGI Monkey Concept
Gracey, in an August Vanity Fair interview, explained the unique approach behind the CGI monkey concept, saying that the idea of portraying Williams as a performing monkey wasn’t limited to his fame but reflected his entire life, even from childhood. “He was always putting on a performance at [his hometown] Stoke for the other kids, at home for his parents. And it made it so powerful for me because I was like, You’re going to fall in love with this character, this little monkey,” Gracey said. He emphasised how the emotional investment in the character was key to carrying the audience through the film.
Williams, too, was on board from the start, immediately embracing the concept. “Amazing. Straight away, yes. Because I want everything that I do from here on in to be slightly unusual, so that fits that narrative,” Williams said. The quirky concept, however, did raise concerns from potential backers, many of whom were hesitant to support the film. “It was some of the shortest meetings I’ve ever had in my life,” Gracey joked, noting that the decision to use a CGI monkey ultimately doubled the film’s budget, leaving some investors wary. Despite the risks, Gracey remained confident that the character’s portrayal would resonate with audiences.
Filming and Release Dates
Principal photography for the film took place primarily in Melbourne at Docklands Studios between May and June 2022. In addition, concert scenes recreating Williams’ iconic ‘Live At The Albert’ performance from 2001 were shot at the Royal Albert Hall during his shows on 6 and 7 November 2022. Fans were able to attend these filming sessions in evening attire, grabbing tickets at special prices. The production later moved to London in March 2023 to capture additional scenes.
Better Man, with a cast that also includes Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, and Alison Steadman, will be in Australian cinemas on 26 December. In the US, it hits select theatres on 25 December 25 before opening wide on 17 January, 2025.
