Singer Robbie Williams is portrayed by a CGI monkey in the first trailer for a uniquely baffling biopic that has already received rave reviews.

 This isn’t your typical musical biopic. The first trailer for Better Man featuring Robbie Williams as a CGI monkey, has dropped.In the short clip, which you can watch below, it looks like your standard musical biopic—showing the artist as a child, performing on stage, and wreaking havoc in a room. But in this case, the lead is a CGI monkey.Williams addresses this unconventional choice with some narration: "I know what you’re thinking. What’s with the monkey? I’m Robbie Williams, one of the biggest pop stars in the world. But I’ve always seen myself as a bit less evolved."  

(Image credit: Paramount)

According to the official logline, Better Man is "based on the true story of the incredible rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable comeback of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. It traces Robbie's journey from childhood to becoming the youngest member of the chart-topping boyband Take That, and his extraordinary success as a record-breaking solo artist—while navigating the challenges that come with such overwhelming fame and success."

Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson. While Robbie Williams provides the singing, Jonno Davies lends his voice and performs the motion capture for the CGI monkey. Despite its bizarre premise, the film has received rave reviews, boasting an 86% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Better Man premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30. It’s set for a wide release in Australia on December 26 and in the UK on Boxing Day. The film will have a limited theatrical release in the US on December 25, followed by a wider release starting January 17.

For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies in 2024 and beyond!