Fans of 'The Greatest Showman' Should Go See the Monkey Musical 'Better Man'

If you were a fan of The Greatest Showman–and who isn't?–then you'll likely enjoy Better Man, a semi-biographical film about British singer Robbie Williams, though in the film Williams is portrayed as a chimpanzee. Odd, I know, but hear me out. The film is both entertaining and, at times, surprisingly heartfelt. Isn't that what we look for in a movie, to be entertained and moved?

Directed by Michael Gracey, who also directed The Greatest Showman, Better Man envisions Williams as a human-like chimpanzee as Williams himself considers himself "less evolved" than most humans. The silliness of Williams as said primate can't help but bring a smile to your face, and the touching relationship he has with his grandmother will at times make you cry from laughter and sadness.

Here's everything we know about Better Man.

What is Better Man?

Better Man is a film based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Williams' journey from childhood to becoming the youngest member of chart-topping boy band Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist, all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.

Who is Robbie Williams?

Robbie Williams is a British pop singer that is known worldwide. He got his start in the boy band Take That.

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Who directed Better Man?

Australian Michael Gracey directed Better Man. Gracey also directed The Greatest Showman. Gracey got his start in visual effects and music videos, and his feature film directorial debut was on The Greatest Showman. He is currently set to direct the live-action version of Tangled.

Why is the main character a monkey?

The choice to have Williams portrayed not by a younger actor, but by a CGI monkey is certainly a risky one. However, it's based on Williams often telling Gracey that he felt like a trained monkey while performing on stage. Rather than deal with casting a look-alike actor and dealing with an impression, Gracey opted to use a CGI monkey to depict for audiences not Williams as we see him, but as he sees himself.

Is Better Man a musical?

Sort of. The Greatest Showman was a musical. Better Man is more of a musical biopic where the subject of the movie happens to be a singer/musician.

To get a taste, take a look at this segment from the movie featuring Williams' song, "Rock DJ."

Who is in the cast of Better Man?

Robbie Williams (Narrator/Voice)

Williams is the narrator and voice of, well, Robbie Williams obviously. Williams got his start in the boy band Take That. He eventually left the group and embarked on a solo career. He is probably best known for his songs "Angels," "Millennium" and "Rock DJ." He also sang "Have You Met Miss Jones" on the Bridget Jones' Diary soundtrack.

Jonno Davies (Motion Capture Robbie Williams)

British actor Jonno Davies is probably best known to US audiences as Tobias in the Al Pacino-led series Hunters on Amazon Prime. Previous credits include Holby City, Hollyoaks, and Kingsmen: The Secret Service. While you won't see his face in the film, it's he who is playing the monkey.

Steve Pemberton (Peter)

Steve Pemberton plays Peter, Robbie's father, in the film. Pemberton's credits include Doctor Who, Whitechapel and Hotel Babylon. He was one of the co-creators of the sitcom, The League of Gentlemen.

Alison Steadman (Betty)

Alison Steadman plays Betty, Robbie's grandmother, to whom he was very close. Steadman has had an extensive career in theatre. Her film credits include Topsy-Turvy, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and Life is Sweet. Television credits include Pride & Prejudice (the Colin Firth version), Gavin & Stacey and Boomers. She was previously married to Secrets & Lies director Mike Leigh.

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When does Better Man premiere?

Better Man premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on Aug. 30, 2024. The film opens in select theaters in the U.S. on Christmas Day. It will open nationwide on Jan. 10, 2025.

Has Better Man received any award nominations?

Awards season is just getting underway so it remains to be seen what awards Better Man may receive. The film's song, "Forbidden Road" was shortlisted for Best Original Song nominations for the Academy Awards, but has since been disqualified. Reports say the song contains material not written specifically for Better Man which puts it out of contention. It was nominated for Best Original Song for the Golden Globes and the film is shortlisted for Best Visual Effects for the Oscars.

Is there a trailer for Better Man?

Yes. Check out the official trailer for Better Man.

Check out images from Better Man

Take a look at some select images from Better Man in the gallery below.

View the 29 images of this gallery on the original article

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