Better Man: See Robbie Williams as a CGI monkey in first trailer for biopic | Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams fans have been given the first real look at one of the strangest biopics in history: a retelling of his rise to fame starring the Stoke pop singer portrayed by a CGI monkey.

“Better Man,” scheduled for release on Christmas Day ahead of a wider release on Jan. 17, is directed by Michael Gracey, who directed “The Greatest Showman,” making it a pop chart hit with a gross of $435 million made.

His new film follows Williams – played by actor Jonno Davies using motion capture technology – as he goes from a troubled childhood to boy band success with Take That and then to solo superstardom: 11 of his 12 studio albums have topped the UK charts , as well as three greatest hits compilations, and he holds the record for the most British awards with 13. The film reportedly doesn't shy away from portraying his animal side, including drug problems and repulsive star behavior.

Better Man played at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals, with the Guardian's Benjamin Lee reviewing the film positively. “From a distance it sounded like an extremely annoying gimmick, perhaps fitting for an entertainer who often gets on his own nerves, but the film… is a surprise winner,” he wrote. “It's not just Gracey's electrifying style and central gimmick that make Better Man feel like an upgrade, it's Williams' disarming honesty and the way he portrayed himself.”

With Williams speaking in voiceover, the trailer showcases Gracey's talent for a song-and-dance number, with footage of a huge sequence under Christmas lights on London's Regent Street – as well as a light-hearted, very Williams-esque take on swear words.

Other reviews were also positive, with Variety writing, “Against all odds, this trick works, setting the project apart from so many other pop star hagiographies… if you want to see a chimpanzee drinking Coke with Oasis or getting a fateful handjob in front of manager Nigel.” Martin Smith (played by Damon Herriman), this is your film.”