Billy Joel calls upcoming biopic “legally and professionally misguided”

Billy & Me, an upcoming biopic about Billy Joel’s early years, isn’t getting a co-sign from the man himself anytime soon. The unauthorized flick is set to chronicle Joel’s pre-“Piano Man” rise through the perspective of his first manager, Irwin Mazur. The film will likely span from Mazur’s discovery of Joel in 1966 through the pianist’s Columbia record deal in 1972. Production is scheduled to begin later this year in Winnipeg and New York. According to a recent report by Variety, Mazur’s exclusive life rights were secured to make Billy & Me. John Ottman, best known as the lead editor of Michael, is set to direct with Adam Ripp writing the script. 

Ottman has called the film a “deeply emotional and fun story” about the man “who recognized Billy’s amazing talent even before Billy did himself.” From that description, Billy & Me doesn’t sound too different from Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which focused on the life and career of Elvis Presley under the management of Colonel Tom Parker (the only way I can stomach Elvis is if I watch it from Parker’s POV). Ottman added: “Sure, the long hair, cigarette smoke and authentic look of the period turns me on as a filmmaker, but what truly drew me to the material was the humanity at its core. It’s funny, heartbreaking, and ultimately very inspiring.”

Jon Small, Joel’s longtime friend, bandmate, and video director, will serve as Billy & Me’s consultant. Small played with Joel when they were both members of the Hassles and, more famously, Attila. “This is the most honest, heartfelt, and authentic portrayal of Billy’s early life and rise to becoming one of the greatest musical voices of our time,” Small said. “Billy & Me is grounded in truth, shaped with care, and built with the insight of people who genuinely know and love Billy. As someone who was there from the very beginning, I can say this script captures not just the music, but the friendships, struggles, humor, and creative spark that defined those years.”

Joel, whose life and music rights were not purchased for the biopic’s story, has all but disavowed the production. One of his representatives said, “Since 2021, the parties involved have been officially notified that they do not possess Billy Joel’s life rights and will not be able to secure the music rights required for this project.” That would suggest why the decision was made to make Billy & Me a story about Joel through Mazur and Small’s eyes, presenting the film as something more akin to Nowhere Boy than Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, or this year’s Michael. “Billy Joel has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity,” the rep added, “and any attempt to move forward without it would be both legally and professionally misguided.” One lingering question surrounding the production is whether Elizabeth Weber, who left Jon Small for Joel, will appear in the film at all. She was a significant presence in the HBO documentary And So It Goes, but whether the Billy & Me filmmakers plan to feature her as a character remains unconfirmed. 

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