Robbie Williams’ new biopic Better Man lost “millions of pounds” when Queen Elizabeth II died.
The film’s director revealed he had arranged for London's Regent Street to be shut down for four nights so he could film a huge musical number.
However, when the monarch died on September 8, 2022, the permits were pulled for an official period of mourning that month.
Director Michael Gracey revealed he had to cancel the elaborate scene with 500 dancers at the last minute, with insurers refusing to cover the costs.
“That was a year and a half in the making with 500 dancers. It's the biggest dance number I've ever done,” Gracey told HELLO! magazine on Monday.
“And on the Friday we were feeling feeling very buoyant, because the first night of filming was Sunday night, and we got a call from the Crown Estate to tell us that the Queen had just died and we wouldn't be shooting because there's 10 days of mourning. So we lost all of the money. There's no insurance for the death of the Queen.”
A state funeral was held for the Queen on September 19, 2022 at Westminster Abbey, followed by a procession of around 3,000 military personnel to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner.
Rocketman producer Gracey said they had to raise the money again for the spectacular dance scene and were only able to film it five months later.
Better Man features a computer-generated monkey playing Williams and is set for release on December 26.
Williams told HELLO! he thought the unusual idea of being depicted as an animal was “genius”.
The Angels singer voices himself in the film, with actor Jonno Davies playing a younger version of the star.
Better Man charts his life, from his humble beginnings in Stoke-on-Trent to becoming a global chart-topping superstar.
The trailer for the “fantastical” biopic dropped last month.
In the voiceover, he explains: “I know what you’re thinking. What’s with the monkey? I’m one of the biggest popstars in the world. But, I’ve always seen myself as a little less evolved.”
Viewers will see Williams’ success in Take That, with Jake Simmance playing Gary Barlow, Liam Head as Mark Owen, Jesse Hyde as Howard Donald, and Chase Vollenweider as Jason Orange.
The official synopsis reads: “Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
“It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.”
