{"id":64936,"date":"2026-05-19T23:10:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T23:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/billy-joel-denounces-upcoming-biopic-professionally-misguided\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T23:10:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T23:10:29","slug":"billy-joel-denounces-upcoming-biopic-professionally-misguided","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/billy-joel-denounces-upcoming-biopic-professionally-misguided\/","title":{"rendered":"Billy Joel Denounces Upcoming Biopic: ‘Professionally Misguided’"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\tA new biopic chronicling the early years of Billy Joel<\/a> is officially in development, with editor and director John Ottman attached to helm the project. However, a rep for the singer-songwriter said that Joel has not authorized the project.<\/p>\n

\n\tAccording to Variety<\/a><\/em>, the film, titled Billy & Me<\/em>, will explore Joel\u2019s formative years before his breakthrough rise to fame in the 1970s, tracing the experiences and relationships that shaped one of America\u2019s most enduring musical voices.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn response to news of the upcoming film, a representative for Joel slammed the biopic. \u201cSince 2021, the parties involved have been officially notified that they do not possess Billy Joel\u2019s life rights and will not be able to secure the music rights required for this project,\u201d the rep told Rolling Stone<\/em> in a statement. \u201cBilly 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tPerhaps due to Joel\u2019s lack of involvement, Billy & Me<\/em> will be told through the perspective of Joel\u2019s first manager, Irwin Mazur, who discovered the future star in 1966 and officially signed him as a client in 1970. Under Mazur\u2019s guidance, Joel would go on to secure a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1972, helping set the stage for his eventual global success.<\/p>\n

\n\tAccording to Variety<\/em>, the production has secured Mazur\u2019s exclusive life rights, along with those of Joel\u2019s longtime friend, drummer, and video director Jon Small, who is set to serve as a consultant, co-executive producer, and second unit director on the film. Filmmaker Adam Ripp is writing the screenplay, and the project will be produced under his ArtPhyl Pictures company.<\/p>\n

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\t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n

\n\t\u201cThis is the most honest, heartfelt, and authentic portrayal of Billy\u2019s early life and rise to becoming one of the greatest musical voices of our time,\u201d Small said of the film. \u201cBilly & Me<\/em> is grounded in truth, shaped with care, and built with the insight of people who genuinely know and love Billy,\u201d he continued. \u201cToo often, stories about artists get lost in exaggeration or mythmaking. Billy & Me<\/em> reflects the real history with integrity and respect. I first met Billy when he was 16 years old, and after reading the script, I felt the filmmakers truly understood who he was before the world knew his name.\u201d<\/p>\n

Casting for Billy & Me<\/em> is currently underway, with production scheduled to begin in Fall 2026, with locations including\u00a0Winnipeg, Canada, and New York.<\/p>\n

\n\tPrior to Billy & Me<\/em>, Ottman worked on the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which was released earlier this year to massive commercial success and fanfare.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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