Robbie Williams’ song “Forbidden Road,” featured in his upcoming biopic Better Man, was initially shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 2025 Academy Awards but has now been disqualified.
In a letter sent to the Academy’s music branch on Friday, officials explained that “Forbidden Road” was removed from the shortlist because it “incorporates material from an existing song that was not written specifically for this film.” The decision came after the Academy’s music committee reviewed relevant materials.
Academy Rules on Originality
To be eligible for an Oscar, a song must be entirely original and created specifically for the film it accompanies. With the removal of “Forbidden Road,” the shortlist now includes 14 contenders instead of 15, and no replacement song will be added.
Songs Remaining on the Shortlist
Among the songs still in contention are:
- “El Mal” and “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez, written and composed by Clément Ducol and Camille.
- Pharrell Williams’ “Piece by Piece” from Piece by Piece.
- Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s “Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Tell Me It’s You” from Mufasa: The Lion King.
- Maren Morris’ “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot.
- Lainey Wilson’s “Out of Oklahoma” from Twisters.
- Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ “Compress/Repress” from Challengers.
- Diane Warren’s “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight.
About Better Man
Better Man, a biographical film based on Robbie Williams’ life, is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on December 25 before expanding on January 10. The film, co-written, produced, and directed by Michael Gracey, features a unique portrayal of Williams as a computer-generated monkey.
Although “Forbidden Road” is no longer in the running for an Oscar, the film remains a highly anticipated release, promising to offer an imaginative take on Williams’ life and career.