Robbie Williams ‘terrified’ for Take That to watch biopic and ‘open old wounds’

Robbie Williams’ new biopic Better Man delves into his early fames as part of sensational boy band Take That and his struggle with addiction.

Take That formed in 1990 – made up of Robbie, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Jason Orange – and enjoyed a successful six years producing hits such as Relight My Fire, Pray and Babe.

But the band originally broke up in 1996 after the 50-year-old artist’s shock departure the year before to embark on a solo career, down to various reasons including a reported feud with Gary.

Better Man, in which Robbie is portrayed by a CGI monkey voiced by Jonno Davies, does not shy away from the messiness of his early career and left him worried about his former bandmates watching it.

‘[Take That bandmate] Mark [Owen], reached out last week and was like, “Hey, Rob, me and the lads are all going to be in town. Can we see a screening of Better Man?” And I was like, “Yes. I’d love you to”, which of course I would,’ he said in a new interview.

But he couldn’t help but voice his reservations as well.

Take That star Mark Owen reached out about watching the movie early (Picture: Getty)

The biopic traces Robbie’s early rise to fame and the struggles he faced in the spotlight (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m terrified because our relationship is so complicated and so healed that returning to the scene of the crime and talking in the way that I talked as a 17-year-old is bound to open old wounds for people,’ he admitted to Deadline.

And his Take That bandmates are not the only controversial characters on screen. The music artist also opened up about the emotional response of his ex-girlfriend Nicole Appleton who he dated at the end of the 90s.

She has already watched the movie with her sister Natalie.

‘I FaceTimed them all straight after the film and we all wept together,’ he said.

He also doesn’t know how Liam Gallagher will react (Oasis have a difficult history with Robbie) but he is ‘most concerned’ about his dad who doesn’t come across as ‘charismatic and charming and wonderful’ as he is.

Despite his concerns, the reception for the movie about the chart-topping singer has, so far, been positive.

The original band broke up in 1996 (Picture: Ilpo Musto/Shutterstock)

The movie has had a good reception from critics (Picture: Paramount Pictures)

In September, the Angels hitmaker had to compose himself after a screening, calling it an ‘overwhelming’ experience.

‘It’s a film that exists on the precipice of falling apart but you’ll be surprised how well it stays together,’ The Guardian praised and Deadline agreed that ‘it really works.’

As he prepares for his movie to rollout everywhere, he is not slowing down his touring.

The singer may have just wrapped up one tour but he has already announced over two dozen concerts across the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe next summer.

Meanwhile Take That have been performing in Australia with Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Better Man arrives in UK cinemas on December 26. It will release worldwide on January 17, 2025.

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