Billy Joel Doesn’t Want You to See the Billy Joel Biopic
Pitchfork • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Billy Joel has disowned the upcoming film "Billy and Me," which dramatizes his early life before his hit "Piano Man," stating he has not authorized or supported the project and warning against moving forward without his consent.
- The film is told from the perspective of Joel’s first manager, Irwin Mazur, whose life rights form the basis of the screenplay, and is directed by John Ottman, known for his work on "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "The Usual Suspects."
- Despite Joel’s disapproval, casting is underway with involvement from Jon Small, Joel’s former drummer and longtime friend, who acts as a consultant, co-executive producer, and second unit director, asserting the script authentically captures Joel’s early years.
- Writer and producer Adam Ripp emphasizes that the film focuses on the era of Billy Joel and the Hassles, using cover songs from that time, and defends the project’s legal standing based on Mazur and Small’s firsthand experiences and rights.