When it was first revealed that Robbie Williams would be portrayed as a motion-capture monkey in his upcoming biopic Better Man, reactions ranged from intrigued to outright baffled. Unsurprisingly, director Michael Gracey, known for The Greatest Showman, faced significant resistance when pitching this bold and unconventional concept to studio executives and financiers.
In an exclusive interview with Radio Times, Gracey opened up about the challenges of getting the project off the ground. “They loved the idea of me telling Robbie Williams’s story—that was an easy sell,” Gracey explained. “But the monkey aspect? Nobody wanted to hear it. That idea alone delayed financing for years.”
Gracey attributed the resistance to the unfamiliarity of the concept. “When you’re pitching something that has no resemblance to anything people already know, it’s incredibly difficult to get them on board,” he said. Quoting a well-known phrase, he added, “Anything of great importance can’t help but go unrecognised because it’s so unfamiliar.”
Robbie Williams himself compared the scepticism to his initial doubts about The Masked Singer. “I thought there was no way that concept would work,” he shared. Gracey, however, joked, “You’ve reduced this to The Masked Singer now, but yes, it was a hard sell. Luckily, being an independent film, we eventually found the right people willing to back it.”
Williams expressed immense gratitude to those who believed in the project. “Can you imagine someone investing millions into a movie about me as a monkey? Incredible. God bless them. I just thought, ‘A monkey? Sure, take my money!’”
A Groundbreaking Take on the Musical Biopic
While the idea of Williams as a motion-capture monkey might seem gimmicky, actor Jonno Davies, who plays the human embodiment of Robbie before his transformation, emphasised the depth and creativity behind the decision.
“People kept asking, ‘A monkey for a scene, right? A flashback? A dream sequence?’ No, it’s the whole film,” Davies clarified. “It’s because Robbie sees himself as a performing monkey—a cheeky entertainer. And unless people are familiar with the incredible work of Weta [special effects studio], they can’t imagine the realism we’ve achieved.”
Davies praised Gracey’s unique vision, highlighting the director’s ability to merge his musical and visual effects expertise. “This isn’t a gimmick,” he explained. “The story is grounded, raw, and deeply exposing. It’s an honest portrayal of Robbie’s journey, unlike any other musical biopic. Michael Gracey’s taste and restraint have made this concept work beautifully.”
The film will release in UK cinemas on 26 December, promising audiences a truly unique cinematic experience.