Robbie Williams’ 'Forbidden Road' removed from Oscar contention due to eligibility rules

The song from 'Better Man' is deemed ineligible for the 2025 Oscars due to the use of pre-existing material.

Robbie Williams’ song “Forbidden Road” from his biopic Better Man has been ruled ineligible for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best Original Song category. A letter sent to the Academy’s music branch on Friday confirmed the removal, citing that the song “incorporates material from an existing song that was not written for this film.”

The Academy’s guidelines require a song to be fully original and created specifically for the film to qualify. Following a review by the music committee, Forbidden Road was disqualified, leaving the shortlist with 14 contenders instead of 15. A replacement will not be added.

Despite this setback, Better Man, directed by Michael Gracey, is generating buzz ahead of its limited release on December 25, followed by a wide release on January 10. The biopic, which uniquely portrays Williams as a computer-generated monkey, explores the singer’s life and career.

Songs still in contention for Best Original Song include tracks from high-profile artists such as Pharrell Williams (“Piece by Piece”), Elton John and Brandi Carlile (“Never Too Late”), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Tell Me It’s You”). Notable entries also include Maren Morris’ “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot and Diane Warren’s “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight.

Although Forbidden Road won’t compete at the Oscars, Better Man remains a highly anticipated release, promising a unique look at Robbie Williams’ journey.