‘Why the monkey?’: Truly bizarre first look at Robbie Williams’ biopic

Robbie Williams is the latest music star to get the big screen biopic treatment … only there’s one huge difference to this film.

Fans have today been given a first look at the long-awaited Robbie Williams big-screen biopic Better Man – and it’s a jarring watch, even if you were already clued in on the film’s big twist.

In short: Williams is played throughout, not by an actor, but by … a CGI chimpanzee. It’s an audacious move, and ever since it was announced early in the film’s development, fans have wondered how exactly director Michael Gracey would pull it off.

Now we’ve got our first look at Robbie Williams – the man, the pop star, the … monkey.

The film traces Robbie’s life, from young monkey …

… to chart-topping pop chimp.

Early reviews from film festival screenings for Better Man have been positive, but based on the 70-second teaser trailer, it’s hard to shake the feeling you’re watching a musical spin-off of Planet of the Apes.

So, why all the monkey business? Williams – who voices his character in the film – and Gracey explained the decision to make the pop star an animal in a new video interview published along with the trailer, helpfully titled ‘Why the monkey?’

“I asked you, if you were an animal, how would you see yourself. In your own words, you referred to being dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey. I immediately thought, portraying you not as we see you, but as you see yourself, it immediately clicked,” Gracey told his subject.

The real Williams on stage. Picture: Matt Loxton

And the Oscar for best CGI ape in a Musical or Comedy goes to …

“I thought: With your voice, and that monkey, I am going to see you and relate to you in a way that is going to more engaging than yet another musical biopic.”

Despite the oddball choice, the teaser seems to follow the typical pop star biopic beats: A rough childhood, a stratospheric rise to fame and then all the problems of drugs, booze and excess that come with worldwide stardom.

You can’t tell me this isn’t a shot from the latest Planet of the Apes movie.

Not shown in the trailer, but sure to make for odd viewing, will be the scenes showing Williams’ early years of fame, as one-fifth of the huge 90s boy band Take That. While Williams will be shown as a monkey in Better Man, his Take That bandmates Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Howard Donald and Mark Owen will all be played by human actors.

It all makes for a film that seems sure to be divisive, but fans seem to be on board so far, flooding the videos with supportive comments.

“That decision is EPIC!!” one person commented, while another said they “LOVE the idea.”

“I am ALLL THE WAY in,” another wrote.

Better Man will hit Australian cinemas on Boxing Day. It follows the release of a four-part Netflix documentary series about Williams’ life and career which was released in November last year.

Originally published as ‘Why the monkey?’: Truly bizarre first look at Robbie Williams’ biopic