The much-awaited trailer of Better Man has finally dropped. The musical drama is a biopic of the British pop singer, Robbie Williams. While die-hard fans of the musician were looking forward to the intriguing plot of the film, the trailer left them spellbound, particularly due to Williams being depicted as a monkey. So, why is Robbie Williams shown as a monkey in his biopic Better Man?
Here is everything you need to know about this aspect of the upcoming film.
Why is Robbie Williams a monkey in the Better Man trailer and movie?
While talking about why he chose to present Robbie Williams as a monkey in Better Man, director Michael Gracey said, “[Williams] literally sees himself as a performing monkey.”
The trailer of Better Man sets it apart from a usual biopic film. While biopics are known for presenting their celebrities like superstars, the makers of this film replaced the leading man with a CGI monkey. Every scene of Williams in the trailer is replaced by a monkey similar to the Planet of the Apes. As the trailer plays, the pop singer begins his narration by addressing his fans who must be wondering about this portrayal.
The monkey starts talking and introduces itself as Robbie Williams. He further says that he knows what everyone must be thinking about the monkey but he is indeed Robbie Williams. Despite being one of the biggest pop stars in the world, he finds himself “less evolved.” This particular statement explains the reason behind the pop sensation’s ape-like portrayal in the film.
In a recent conversation with Deadline, director Michael Gracey spoke about how this idea came from. He said:
“I found Rob saying [in recordings] often that he was just dragged up to perform, like a monkey, or it didn’t really matter. He was just up the back performing like a monkey. And he said it enough times that I was like, ‘Oh, that’s how he sees himself. He literally sees himself as a performing monkey.’ And I thought, ‘That would be amazing; I would love to see that film.’ That’s where the idea came from. And then, of course, I had to pitch it to him.”
Better Man will trace the rise, fall, and resurgence of Robbie Williams. It will showcase Williams’ journey from the youngest member of the popular band Take That to a solo pop sensation. Apart from Williams, the biopic features Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, and others in important roles.
The movie is slated to release in December 2024 in select theaters.
