Okay, this film is bonkers. It's a Robbie Williams biopic, but Williams is played by a CGI chimpanzee and voiced by Williams.

Robbie Williams — as a Monkey — Struggles to Adjust to Stardom in ‘Better Man’ Trailer

Better Man looks like a traditional biopic — except for one major thingRobbie Williams takes on a completely new shape in the trailer for his biopic, directed by "The Greatest Showman" director Michael Gracey.

The British pop star portrays himself as a CGI monkey in the latest trailer for "Better Man," hitting select theaters Dec. 25 and out everywhere Jan. 17.

"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," a synopsis reads.

"This is my story. But I'm not going to tell it in an ordinary way, because I don't see myself how others see me," Williams says in the trailer, explaining the decision to visualize himself as a chimpanzee.


"To be honest, I've always been a little less evolved," Williams jokes.

The trailer covers his life story, showing his upbringing and his struggle with his image as he rises to fame.

Williams, a member of the British pop group Take That, found massive fame in the mid 1990s before splitting off for a solo career, reuniting with the group in 2010 and again briefly in 2020. Williams has since been vocal regarding his experience with mental health issues and addiction during his rise to fame.


"Do I look like a pop star to you?" Williams asks in the trailer, which shows him at times filled with rage as he grapples with his future and ever-evolving fame.


The film stars Jonno Davies, who portrayed the chimpanzee using motion capture technology, Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno and more, as well as Williams voicing himself.

In a video explaining the decision to portray Williams as a chimpanzee, Gracey explained Williams said that was the animal Williams saw himself as most similar to.

This is quintessential Robbie Williams.

Very "him."

I'm actually a pretty big fan of his solo work but it's an insanely risky creative decision they've made. I remember when his record label tried to "break" Robbie in America and never really got anywhere. He's a much bigger star outside of North America.

Whoever chopped up the trailer did a terrible job trying to sync it with the stirring moments in Angels. Robbie is an incredible live performer - I became a fan flipping channels one day when I heard his live version of Wonderwall.

Robbie Williams is one of the greatest entertainers, but I don't see how this movie could captivate that. The Netflix documentary was great, this looks pretty ordinary, besides the twist.

I still remember when MTV tried breaking him into America back in 1999-2000(?) and it was a giant thud here, but apparently he draws massive audiences overseas.

Yeah, this will have to be a worldwide success because I can't imagine it ever really playing here. I'm a Williams fan, and I'm barely interested in it.

It feels like I've seen the trailer twenty times now though.

It has to be a streamer since no way it could be greenlighted for a U.S. theatrical release.

Wow, Discussing Film absolutely loved it and gave the film review

The Regal in my area is screening it starting 1/9/24.

Definitely will check it out.

Just back from it. It was fun.

Yep, MTV2. I remember that well. "Millennium" and "Angels" were both in heavy in rotation. But still didn't make him a star here.

Millennium is a fantastic song, but that has way more to do with John Barry and James Bond than Robbie Williams.

I'm 60 and somehow never heard of this guy until a few months ago when I first saw this come up.
So is this the new thing now. Famous people and their biopics but as a cartoon or legos or a cgi monkey

Indeed. Williams had so many great songs. "Rock DJ" being one. During this time when MTV2 was trying to make him a star in the States, he had a mini tour. One stop was at the 9:30 Club here in Washington D.C. Capacity 1200 people. Tickets were just $25.00. My friend bought two and asked me to go with her, so I did. The show sold out and we met so many people that night. Most of them were from the U.K. Fans of Williams who couldn't get tickets to his shows in England and flew to the U.S. to see him. The people we talked to were especially excited to see him in smaller venues. BTW, he's a fantastic front man. I truly had no interest in seeing him and walked away very impressed.

I bought and played the hell out of his first US CD, "The Ego Has Landed", which was a compilation album. I bought a few more of his albums because of it. But I still don't know who's going to see this movie in the United States.

Sadly he won't be an Oscar winner in 2025. Thought he might be the favorite, but the stupid Music Branch of the Academy killed that the dream.

Robbie Williams’ ‘Better Man’ Original Song Disqualified From Oscars After Making Shortlist

The Robbie Williams song “Forbidden Road” from “Better Man,” shortlisted earlier this week for best original song, has been disqualified, Variety has learned.

The song, insiders report, “incorporates material from an existing song that was not written for the film” and so has been deemed ineligible for the Oscar.

Academy rules state that the words and music of any song submitted for awards consideration must be “original and written specifically for the motion picture.”

“Forbidden Road” is formally credited to Williams, Freddy Wexler and Sacha Skarbek, and it is currently also nominated for a Golden Globe as best original song.



The melody of “Forbidden Road” contains marked similarities to that of “I Got a Name,” the Charles Fox-Norman Gimbel song performed by Jim Croce in the 1973 film “The Last American Hero.” Coincidentally, Fox is one of three governors of the Academy’s music branch.



A letter went out to the 400-plus members of the music branch this morning. Reportedly the similarities came to the attention of the branch executive committee just this week, and the decision to drop the song came yesterday afternoon.

Noted the letter: “This is a decision that both honors our rules and protects the special nature of the Original Song and Score categories.”

Executives at Paramount, which released “Better Man,” could not immediately be reached for comment.

The music branch executive committee’s action means the original song shortlist will be trimmed to 14 titles from the previous 15. Disqualifications like this generally do not result in a “replacement” song.

Music branch voters will choose from the remaining 14 titles when voting for Oscar nominations begins Jan. 8.

Movie is apparently struggling in its limited release. I guess any theatrical success it has will come from overseas. When I first saw the trailer it took a while for me to remember who he was, as the last time I heard his name over here was in 2000 when his rather crazy "Rock DJ" video was making the rounds on MTV. I also remember Millennial getting a fair amount of radio play in early summer of 1999. It seems America's tendency is to now ignore any acts that don't hit big stateside.

I can't even watch the trailer, it's so cringe. I cannot believe this CGI monkey stuff works at all.

Robbie Williams hasn't released an album in the last 5 years and Forbidden Road is his first new song in 5 years. His Netflix documentay series was very succesful last year and in 2025 he's touring in Europe. I think he has found his freedom of being a huge superstar in Europe, but not in the US.

I still don't get the decision why they went for the monkey.

​I thought it was like obvious that it was a metaphor. Anywhos, I'm old so I remember his videos on MTV and it's not surprising that this isn't doing well and it certainly won't do well here. There just isn't any recognition to most of who this guy is. If it's going to be a success, it's going to be from word of mouth.

When I first saw the trailer I thought his name rang a bell, and when I realized he's the same guy who made this music video , I wasn't surprised by the "monkey man" approach. At least it's not as traumatizing as what he does at the end on this one.

Will likely watch on streaming. the monkey is probably from the Me and my Monkey song?

He has a good documentary out. I liked it a lot. Goes into a lot of details on his success / drugs etc. I think it's on Netflix?

I too saw him on that small tour, except I saw him in a radio station performance. probably less than 50 people there.

He lives in LA, to avoid the UK media/spotlight.

Wide release is this week.

I thought it was more of a “dance, you monkey” allusion.