The production of the Robbie Williams biopic, Better Man, faced a major setback when the death of Queen Elizabeth II forced a halt in filming just days before a crucial dance sequence was scheduled.
Better Man , the Robbie Williams biopic, features a stunning dance sequence set on London’s iconic Regent Street, choreographed to Williams’ hit song “Rock DJ.” Director Michael Gracey revealed during a Q&A at the Palm Springs International Film Festival that the scene almost got scrapped due to the unexpected death of Queen Elizabeth II. The elaborate number, involving 500 dancers, buses, and taxis, took 18 months of meticulous planning.
But the logistical challenges of shooting on one of the busiest streets in the world weren't the only obstacles. Gracey described the high stakes involved: “It’s the hardest dance sequence I’ve ever shot, and I’ve done a lot of dance sequences. It’s Crown Land, so it’s owned by the Royals. You’re dealing with the Crown Estate, Westminster Council, and it’s also a bus route. If anyone produces films, you know this is a lethal combination… We had four nights. If we didn’t make any one of those nights, we didn’t have a number because it’s all done with a single camera motion, so it was very high pressure.” The production rehearsed relentlessly to ensure everything went smoothly. However, just days before filming, tragedy struck. “At the end of the week, we’re a finely tuned machine. And then we got a phone call from the estate of the Queen, who died. And we wouldn’t be shooting because there’s ten days of mourning. We already spent all the money for the shoot… So in that one moment, we lost the entire budget of the shoot. And there’s no insurance for the death of the Queen.” The shutdown was a massive blow to the production, leaving Gracey and the team scrambling. With no insurance payout to cover the loss, many on the production suggested cutting the number altogether
Robbie Williams Better Man Biopic Queen Elizabeth II Dance Sequence
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