Robbie Williams Directs Trailer for Offbeat Biopic 'Better Man' (Watch)

“Monkey man“was already accepted as a title, so Robbie WilliamsThe unconventional biopic is called “Better Man.” Just kidding, it's named after him 2000 single – but he's an ape-man in the film, as the new trailer makes clear.

“Better Man,” which opens in U.S. theaters on Christmas Day, is a “satirical biopic” in which the British pop superstar is portrayed as a chimpanzee. Why? Because it is “an extraordinary journey that cannot be told in an ordinary way,” says Paramount, which is distributing the film in the USA Jonno Davies (“Hunters”) performs motion capture for the Ape Man while Williams provides his voice. The film is directed Michael Gracey (“The greatest showman“) and written by Gracey, Oliver ColeAnd Simon Gleeson. The ape VFX was provided by Weta, the same company that produces the Planet of the Apes films.

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“'Better Man' is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time,” said Paramount. “Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey, the film is uniquely told from Robbie's perspective and captures his trademark wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie's journey from childhood, to his role as the youngest member of the successful boy band Take That, to his unprecedented success as a record-breaking solo artist – all while facing the challenges that horrendous fame and success can bring.”

Robbie Williams is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, having sold 75 million records worldwide. He has had 13 No. 1 albums and seven No. 1 singles in the UK and has won a record 18 Brit Awards. One could argue that he is the greatest Anglophone artist in the world who is not popular in America. Maybe this film will change that?

The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and received positive reviews from critics who saw it there. The “Fresh” rating is currently 86% Rotten tomatoes. There's a chance that a new song Williams composed for the film “Forbidden Road” could compete for a nomination for best original song at the Oscars.

“Better Man” will be released in limited release in the US on December 25th, followed by a wide release on January 17th.

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