| Director: | Michael Gracey |
| Producer: |
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| Starring: | |
| Cinematography: | Erik A. Wilson |
| Editing: |
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| Runtime: | 134 minutes |
| Language: | English |
Better Man is a 2024 semi-biographical film about British pop singer Robbie Williams. It was co-written, co-produced and directed by Michael Gracey. Williams is portrayed as a chimpanzee with CGI, performed by Jonno Davies using motion capture.
Better Man premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on 25 December by Paramount Pictures and in Australia on 26 December by Roadshow Films.
Tells the life story of pop singer Robbie Williams, but with Williams portrayed as a chimpanzee because, as he puts it, he always felt "less evolved" than other people.
The project was first announced in February 2021 as co-written and directed by Michael Gracey with Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson also having co-writing credits, and Gracey also producing alongside Jules Daly for Big Red Films and Craig McMahon for McMahon International.[1] Later that year it was reported that funding also came via the Australian government’s Producer Offset and Film Victoria’s incentive programmes.[2] The film is set to be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Roadshow Films with international sales handled by Rocket Science.[3]
Described as a satirical musical, the project is reported to cover three decades of Robbie Williams' stardom, from his first success in popular music combo Take That through the ups and down of his career. The project was reported to "reinterpret and recontextualise" some of his songs.[4]
Williams played himself with Jonno Davies playing the younger version. Williams described the filming process as “super odd” because he would find himself “sat in make-up and the lady that’s playing your grandma is sitting next to you, and the people playing your mum and dad”.[5] Williams is portrayed by Jonno Davies as a CGI chimpanzee, using motion-capture technology.[6]
Other cast members include Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Anthony Hayes, Damon Herriman and Kate Mulvany, with Williams' Take That band mates set to be played by Jake Simmance (Barlow), Liam Head (Donald), Jesse Hyde (Owen) and Chase Vollenweider (Orange).[7] VFX was provided by Wētā FX.[8]
Principal photography took place at the Docklands Studios Melbourne, in May and June 2022.[9] [10] Filming of concert scenes from his ‘Live At The Albert’ show in 2001 were filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London during Williams' concert appearances there on 6 and 7 November 2022. Members of the public could snap up bargain price tickets to attend in evening dress for the gigs.[11] Filming also took place in London in March 2023.[12]
Songs by Robbie Williams reportedly to feature in the film include ‘She’s The One’, ‘Angels’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’.[13] Gracey said the songs will be “re-sung”, to suit “the emotion of the moment” in the film.[14] The original score was composed by Batu Sener.[15] On 22 November 2024, Williams released the single "Forbidden Road", taken from the film's soundtrack; it peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.[16]
Better Man premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2024.[17] [18] It will open the 55th International Film Festival of India on 20 November 2024.[19]
The film is scheduled to be released in theaters in Australia on 26 December 2024; a limited theatrical release in the United States will take place a day prior, with a wider release set for 10 January 2025.[20] [21]