Better Man cast: Who plays Robbie Williams in the new movie?

As a die-hard fan of all things Robbie Williams and cinema, I must say that “Better Man” has truly outdone itself this Christmas season! The unique approach to portraying Robbie as a CGI chimpanzee is not only ingenious but also a testament to the director’s creative vision.

This Christmas, the film A Better Man is gracing the big screen, offering an unconventional narrative about the life story of Robbie Williams.

Indeed, it’s common knowledge that the character of Williams is depicted by a computer-generated chimpanzee in the latest film. This creative choice, as clarified by director and co-writer Michael Gracey, was inspired by the fact that the actor himself often likened his career to that of a ‘show-business monkey.’

For Williams, the decision to proceed with the proposal made perfect sense once Gracey explained it. Despite his absence from the series Better Man, it is Williams’ distinctive voice that sings every song and provides the narration throughout the film.

As a gamer diving into a new quest, let me clarify who portrayed the legendary Robbie Williams in the movie ‘Better Man’. You might be perplexed about his on-screen counterpart, but fear not! I’m here to guide you through the cast, revealing the actors behind the faces of Take That band members and Oasis too.

Better Man cast: Who plays Robbie Williams in the new movie?

Who plays Robbie Williams in Better Man?

It’s not a straightforward answer because, as you’d expect, a lot goes into creating a CGI chimpanzee to portray Robbie Williams.

In simpler terms, they used technology to closely study Williams’ actions and expressions as he sang a song from ‘Better Man’, then used that data to accurately mimic those actions in a chimp portraying him.

Initially, Jonno Davies assumed the role of portraying Williams in the film using motion capture technology for his acting. Later, Weta FX combined this digitized representation with actual footage of Williams (and past performances) to produce the chimp character that appears on screen.

In the movie, Davies primarily portrayed Williams, but at the beginning, it was Asmara Feik and Carter J Murphy who were chosen to play the younger versions of the protagonist. Their performances, similar to Davies’, were captured using motion capture technology.

Better Man cast: Who plays Robbie Williams in the new movie?

According to Gracey, the team behind the scenes developed a digital representation of Robbie based on abundant footage they had of Robbie himself, which was then used to enhance Jonno’s performance within the movie “Better Man”.

In some instances, such as ‘Let Me Entertainer You,’ there are signature elements that Robbie performs distinctively – his movements, facial expressions, and vocal inflections during song breaks. Remarkably, these unique traits were directly captured by Robbie himself.

Additionally, it should be noted that Jonno often studied Robbie’s performances for inspiration. It was quite striking to see how much of Robbie’s style and flair seeped into Jonno’s own performances. Consequently, their acts became a captivating blend, allowing us to incorporate the genuine Robbie Williams when necessary, creating a unique and harmonious fusion in certain instances.

However, Jonno truly excelled in his performances, even in silent moments where he was merely reacting, he managed to portray reactions that were authentically reminiscent of Robbie. Every biopic needs a standout central performance, and we’ve been incredibly lucky to have one with Jonno.

Not only did Williams narrate the film, but he also rerecorded all the songs for it, meaning it wasn’t Davis who sang those tunes.

Better Man cast: Who plays Robbie Williams in the new movie?

Who plays Take That and Oasis in Better Man?

In the film “Better Man,” it’s possible that Robbie Williams could be portrayed as a chimpanzee, yet all the other characters, including well-known personalities, are depicted as humans.

The main secondary characters are portrayed by Raechelle Banno, previously known for her role in “Home & Away,” as Nicole Appleton, and Damon Herriman, who has been in shows such as “The Tourist” or played Charles Manson in “Mindhunter” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” as Take That’s manager Nigel Martin-Smith.

Speaking as a devoted fan, the talented actors portraying the original members of Take That in this production are none other than Jake Simmance who brings Gary Barlow to life, Liam Head brilliantly embodies Howard Donald, Jesse Hyde captures Mark Owen’s essence, and Chase Vollenweider does an exceptional job as Jason Orange.

In the movie, you might recognize Take That tunes such as ‘Relight My Fire’ and ‘I Found Heaven’. However, their most memorable performance is showcased in an upbeat scene on Regent Street, where ‘Rock DJ’ plays. You can catch a glimpse of this scene in the video below:

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In the production notes, Davies stated that everyone has developed a strong friendship with his Take That colleagues.

On set, we worked closely together, giving Michael the freedom to let us ad-lib lines in our scenes. There was plenty of opportunity for friendly back-and-forth. In these instances, I aimed to emulate Robbie’s self-assuredness while being mindful that sometimes it was an illusion of confidence.

In the movie “Better Man,” aside from the main band, you’ll also notice Oasis and All Saints. However, their appearances can be considered as brief, almost like guest stars.

In the given production, Chris Gun takes on the role of Noel Gallagher, while Leo Harvey-Elledge portrays Liam Gallagher. Interestingly, Harvey-Elledge has previously depicted the iconic figure, having played him earlier in the film titled “Creation Stories“.

As a gamer, I’ve got some exciting news to share! It turns out that the sister of Raechelle Banno, who I know from Better Man, is none other than Karina, who plays Natalie Appleton in the show. And here’s the twist: Sandra Githinji and Elyssia Koulouris, two familiar faces from All Saints, are portraying Shaznay Lewis and Melanie Blatt respectively in our favorite series! Isn’t it fascinating how real-life connections can mirror on-screen relationships?

Better Man is out now in UK cinemas.

2024-12-26 12:20