‘Better Man’ Trailer: Robbie Williams Biopic Uses a Singing Monkey as Main Character in ‘Greatest Showman’ Director’s New Musical Movie

As a longtime Robbie Williams fan who has followed his journey from the early days of Take That to his successful solo career, I must say I was initially taken aback when I saw the trailer for “Better Man.” The idea of a CGI monkey standing in for one of my favorite pop stars seemed bizarre, to say the least.


Robbie Williams fans will go bananas over the trailer for “Better Man” — literally.

Paramount unveiled the initial teaser for the musical biography movie by Michael Gracey, the same director who brought us “The Greatest Showman.” Interestingly enough, they’re using a computer-generated monkey to represent a famous British pop star in this production.

In the trailer, it’s clear that Robbie Williams is expressing his thoughts. He says, ‘You might be wondering why there’s a monkey here. I’m Robbie Williams, a globally recognized pop sensation. Yet, in my mind, I feel less advanced,'” (paraphrased). “The initial glimpse of this musical movie seems typical of biopics featuring famous artists. However, each scene involving Williams is substituted with a monkey double that resembles the characters from ‘Planet of the Apes’.

The trailer depicts Williams’ childhood years spent playing soccer while dressed like a clothed monkey. Later, it presents a compilation of Williams’ stage performances before enthusiastic audiences, portraying him as a howling ape with exposed fangs, large teeth, and an extended tongue.

This film, titled “Better Man,” is inspired by the real-life events of the incredible career trajectory of Robbie Williams, one of the most exceptional entertainers ever. Directed by Michael Gracey (known for ‘The Greatest Showman’), this movie offers a unique perspective, as it’s told from Robbie’s point of view, showcasing his distinctive humor and unbreakable spirit. The narrative traces Robbie’s journey, beginning with his early years, joining the chart-topping boyband Take That, moving through his unprecedented solo successes, and dealing with the trials that come with extraordinary fame.

The lineup features Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvaney, Frazer Hadfield, Tom Budge, and Anthony Hayes. Jonno Davies portrays a monkey character named Williams.

Composition of ‘Better Man’ is credited to Gracey, Simon Gleeson, and Oliver Cole. The executive producers of this piece are Williams, Zhe Chen, Markus Barmettler, Philip Lee, Li-Wei Chu, Michael Loney, Thorsten Schumacher, Lars Sylvest, Mark Williams, Gregory Jankilevitsch, Klaudia Smieja, David Ravel, Domenic Benvenuto, Gianni Benvenuto, Zoran Stojkovic, Dean Hood, David Conley, Daniel Fluri, Adrian Grabe, Andres Kernen, Slava Vladimirov, Jared Underwood, and Andrew Robinson.

Watch the trailer below.

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2024-10-02 16:48