Billy Joel refuses to back a biopic about his early life titled 'Billy and Me'
Joel's representative said the parties involved do not possess his life rights and cannot secure the music rights
A music biopic chronicling Billy Joel's formative years is pressing ahead — but without the blessing, life rights, or music rights of the man himself.
Joel's objections
Joel's representative issued a firm statement, obtained by Page Six, making clear that the star has had no involvement in 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," the statement read.
"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," they added.
The film and its creative team
Despite the opposition, Billy & Me is moving forward. John Ottman, who served as editor on 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody and this year's Michael, is set to direct, with Adam Ripp writing the script and producing.
According to Variety, the film will explore Joel's origin story through the perspective of his first manager, Irwin Mazur.
Ottman said he is "really proud" of the work he and Ripp have done to shape the project. "This is the formative years of Billy and his relationship with Irwin Mazur, the man who recognized Billy's amazing talent even before Billy did himself," he said.
"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." He described the film as "funny, heartbreaking, and ultimately very inspiring."
The story it will tell
Mazur discovered Joel, now 77, in 1966 and managed his career until he signed with Columbia Records in 1972.
Production has secured the life rights of both Mazur and Jon Small, a longtime friend and early collaborator of Joel's.
The film is also expected to cover the tumultuous personal circumstances of that period. Joel's first wife, Elizabeth Weber, was previously married to Small before she left him for Joel — a development that led to the collapse of Joel and Small's band, Attila.
In the aftermath, Joel suffered from depression and made multiple suicide attempts, a period documented in the 2025 documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes.
