To a sure era of Americans, Robbie Williams could also be finest generally known as the cheeky singer who ripped off his pores and skin in a curler disco for his video “Rock DJ” (or perhaps for his 1997 hit “Angels”?).
To different generations of Americans, Williams could also be finest generally known as “Who?” however a brand new imaginative biopic intends to vary that — however the new trailer, under, reveals a little bit of a twist in his story, the place Williams is portrayed as a monkey (by way of efficiency seize by Jonno Davies).
According to the movie's logline, Better Man relies 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.” Director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) uniquely tells the movie from Williams’ perspective, “capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit.”
While Davies did all of the movement seize and supplies Williams' talking voice, the former Take That member narrates the movie and, after all, does his personal singing. In a lot of their conversations collectively, Williams instructed Gracey he usually felt like a monkey performing for the enjoyment of others, so Gracey took that simile and ran with it.
Like another biopic, save the speaking monkey at its middle, Better Man follows Robbie’s journey from childhood to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, by way of his profession as a record-breaking solo artist — all the whereas confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can deliver.
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Williams was mainly the Harry Styles of his day, and Take That the One Direction, besides greater. With 12 No. 1 singles in the U.Okay. and greater than 14 million albums offered, Take That is the most profitable boy band in U.Okay. chart historical past. The band, fashioned in 1990, went their separate methods after Williams left Take That in 1995, little doubt breaking many a teenage coronary heart.
Williams went on to chart seven No. 1s in the U.Okay. himself, and knocked out 13 No. 1 solo albums, six of that are amongst the high 100 biggest-selling albums in the U.Okay. As with many a troubled celebrity, Williams additionally had his fair proportion of demons, together with battles with psychological sickness, weight problems, vanity points, alcoholism, and substance abuse.
Still, U.S. audiences can be forgiven for not having the ability to identify any of Take That's or Williams' songs, as neither they nor he managed to interrupt by way of the method, say, the Spice Girls did later in the '90s. But Take That walked so the Spice Girls may “Hai si ja hold tight!” And Williams stripped all the way down to his literal bones so Harry Styles may at some point steal Album of the Year from Beyoncé. So…thanks, Robbie?
Eric Charbonneau/Paramount Pictures by way of Getty
Check out the trailer for Better Man — in choose theaters Dec. 25 and nationwide Jan. 17, 2025 — above
