It has been revealed Robbie Williams’ track ‘Forbidden Road’ from his forthcoming biopic Better Man has been disqualified from the ‘Best Original Song’ category at the 2025 Oscars, days after it made the shortlist.
The Academy revealed the song had been revoked its position in the shortlist after failing to meet essential criteria. Academy bosses believed it sounded too similar to ‘I Got A Name’ from The Last American Hero, released in 1993. ‘Forbidden Road’ was ultimately ruled out as it incorporated material from a pre-existing song which wasn’t made for the sole use of Better Man.
400 members of the Academy’s Music Branch were notified via letter shortly after the announcement of the shortlist that Williams’ track would be removed. Instead of a replacement song being added to the shortlist, the category for ‘Best Original Song’ will feature 14 competitors (instead of 15) battling for their place in the official Oscar nominations, which are set to be announced in January.
The letter notifying the change of shortlist emphasised the decision “both honours our rules and protects the special nature of the Original Song and Score categories”.
During a time of growing popularity in celebrity biopics, Williams’ upcoming biopic sees the ‘Let Me Entertain You’ singer take centre stage as a CGI chimp. Differing from pre-existing biopics (Elton John’s Rocketman and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody), Better Man, from Greatest Showman’s director Michael Gracey, will depict Williams’ as an uncannily cheeky chimp being thrown into fame at 16, exploring the difficulty of navigating life in the spotlight. Confronting the assumption that he felt like a ‘performing monkey’ during his time in Take That, Better Man encompasses the highs and lows of Williams’ life. From depictions of his ascendence to fame to his mental health battles, Better Man provides a semi-biographical depiction of Williams’ life through a unique perspective.
In an interview with the Guardian Williams’ revealed the reason for this unique perspective within his biopic: “Let’s face it, a Robbie Williams biopic without the monkey is way less appealing, or intriguing… It would be interesting to my fans, but not to anyone else”.
As the ‘Rock DJ’ performer has been awaiting the official release of Better Man on Boxing Day (December 26), the singer is evidently taking this latest disqualification from the Oscar’s ‘Best Original Song’ shortlist in his stride as he completes his global promotion of the biopic. Oscar nomination or not, Better Man will showcase the popstar in his most unfiltered (and somewhat cheekiest) self to viewers.
