Robbie Williams has explained why he is played by a CGI monkey in his new biopic Better Man.
The semi-autobiographical film, directed and co-writtten by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), is due for release in the UK on Boxing Day (December 26) and in select US cinemas on Christmas Day (December 25).
When the first teaser for the movie arrived in October, many fans reacted to the unique decision to have a CGI monkey portraying Williams instead of an actor in a live-action role. Some called the move “bonkers”, “completely bananas” and “totally incredible”.
During an interview on The One Show last night (November 26) Williams explained that it was an idea of Gracey’s. Host Lauren Laverne then put it to the singer that “any number of wonderful actors could have played [him]”, and asked why this wasn’t the direction they went in.
In response, Williams said: “Well Jonno Davies is the actor behind the CGI chimpanzee me – who does a remarkable, incredible job.” Gracey agreed: “Yeah, he’s phenomenal.”
Williams continued: “Why was that? I love eccentricity and I love unusual and I love surreal – and it made complete sense to me as soon as [Gracey] pitched it to me. I don’t know if this film would be as talked about if it hadn’t had the monkey in it.
“And it does, and it has. And it all makes sense when you see it.” Laverne, who had seen a preview screening of Better Man, replied: “Within about 10 minutes you’re like, ‘Of course! Perfect!’.”
English (US) · 