British pop singer Robbie Williams has been in the music business for over three decades now. He first gained recognition as a member of the band, Take That. He started as a backup vocalist, but it was not long before he took over as one of the lead singers.
Despite his success with the band, he chose to embark on a solo career in 1996. A decade and a half later, he rejoined the band only to leave it again after creating and touring one album. His career has been quite happening throughout the decades and now a biopic on his life is all set to be released. What is even unique about this biopic titled Better Man is that he is visualized as a CGI monkey.
Robbie Williams Might Give Andy Serkis a Run for His Money with His Biopic Better Man
Robbie Williams found himself creatively constrained as a member of Take That even though the band enjoyed enormous fame with hits like Back for Good and Pray. Consequently, he decided to part ways and work as a solo artist.
His solo career was just as successful with all except one of his 14 studio albums having enjoyed the first spot in the UK. His Close Encounters Tour sold 1.6 million tickets in one day, which earned him a Guinness World Record. Not to mention the 18 Brit Awards he has won.
Such a legendary artist is obviously deserving of a biopic. This biopic titled Better Man has already opened at the Telluride Film Festival. However, this is not a typical biopic in which the artist talks about their life or an actor portrays the artist. Instead, Williams is portrayed by a CGI monkey which he voices. A trailer for the biopic has been released and fans are equal parts excited and surprised.
It is worth noting that English actor Andy Serkis is widely known for his motion capture role as the ape Caesar in the Planet of the Apes reboot series. So, one cannot help but wonder whether or not the CGI monkey in Better Man will be able to hold a candle to Serkis’ performances. That said, the biopic is directed by Michael Gracey, known for making The Greatest Showman, and musician Pink’s documentary, P!nk: All I Know So Far.
Is Having Computer-Animated Characters Playing Real People the New Hollywood Trend?
It is a brave new world where AI and CGI might just take over the film and music industry if left unchecked. This is not to say that CGI is a bad thing considering it is what has given us some of the best superhero movies and James Cameron’s Avatar franchise.
However, it does become a concern when CGI starts finding use in the visualization of real people who could have been played by themselves or other actors. Better Man is not the only biopic using this technology.
Earlier this year, American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams debuted the trailer for his Lego animated biopic Piece by Piece (via YouTube). It is directed by Academy Award-winning documentarian Morgan Neville and will feature Williams narrating his life story, with both him and the other characters on screen depicted as Legos, of all things.
As innovative as these projects are turning out to be, hopefully, this is not the dawn of something that the film industry will rely on too heavily, at the expense of practical effects and authentic storytelling. In the meanwhile, fans can catch Piece by Piece in the theatres on October 11.
Better Man will swing in the theatres on January 17, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Robbie Williams portrayed as a CGI monkey in Better Man?
Better Man is a biopic of Robbie Williams’ life, but instead of a typical portrayal it depicts the singer as a CGI primate that Williams himself voices. The article calls it a “monkey,” though the film actually renders him as an anthropomorphic chimpanzee (an ape), reflecting Williams’ own “performing monkey” self-image. The article reports this creative choice left fans equal parts excited and surprised. The film, directed by Michael Gracey of The Greatest Showman, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and uses the unusual visualization to tell Williams’ story.
How does Better Man invite comparison to Andy Serkis?
Andy Serkis is widely known for his motion-capture role as the ape Caesar in the Planet of the Apes reboot series. Because Better Man portrays Robbie Williams as a CGI ape (a chimpanzee), the article notes observers cannot help wondering whether that performance will hold a candle to Serkis’ acclaimed work, framing the biopic as a possible challenge to his reputation for ape-based motion-capture roles.
When does Better Man release in theaters?
According to the article, Better Man swings into theaters on January 17, 2025 (the wide US release date the piece cites). The article also mentions Pharrell Williams’ Lego-animated biopic Piece by Piece, directed by Academy Award-winning documentarian Morgan Neville, which was set to arrive in theaters on October 11, citing both as examples of films using computer animation to depict real people rather than casting live actors.
