Billy Joel Biopic in the Works

An upcoming biopic will explore the early years of singer and pianist Billy Joel before he became famous, according to Variety.

The film, titled Billy & Me, will follow Joel’s career before he became famous from the perspective of his first manager, Irwin Mazur. He discovered Joel in 1966, signed him in 1970, and stayed with him until he signed with Columbia Records in 1972. Editor John Ottman, who worked as editor on hit biopics Michael and Bohemian Rhapsody, will make his directorial debut. The screenplay is by Adam Ripp, the son of Artie Ripp, who gave Joel his first solo record deal.

The casting process is underway, and production is scheduled to start in the fall in Winnipeg and New York. The movie is being made through Michael Jai White’s Jaigantic Studios and was previously announced in 2022 as Piano Man.

Joel Himself Is Not Involved

Joel is not involved, however, and has criticized the project.

“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,” a rep for Joel told Variety. “Billy Joel has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity, and any attempt to move forward without it would be both legally and professionally misguided.”

Despite Joel’s lack of involvement, the team does have the rights to Mazur’s life story, as well as that of drummer Jon Small, who played with Joel in the bands the Hassles and Attila in the ’60s. Small is also working on Billy & Me as a consultant, executive producer, and second unit director.

“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 told Variety. “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’s life and career were recently detailed in the two-part HBO documentary And So It Goes.