- Primary Subject: Billy Joel Biopic (Billy & Me)
- Key Update: Billy Joel has strongly condemned the upcoming biopic, refusing to grant his music or life rights.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 20, 2026
- Quick Answer: Billy Joel opposes the upcoming biopic Billy & Me, denying creators his music and life rights because he has not authorized the project in any capacity.
As one of the pillars of the music industry, it’s no surprise that Billy Joel is getting his own biopic, titled Billy & Me, following films like Michael, Rocketman, Elvis, and more. However, it looks like the music icon himself isn’t happy about it, calling out the upcoming movie in a harsh statement.
What Did Billy Joel Say About His Biopic?
According to Variety, the Billy Joel biopic will be told through the perspective of his first manager, Irwin Mazur.
However, while the film already has Mazur’s life rights, along with those of Joel’s friend, former drummer, and video director Jon Small, who also serves as consultant, executive producer, and second unit director for Billy & Me, the iconic singer does not approve of the project.
He not only disapproves of the film but has also not granted the rights to either his music or his life story.
“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,” Joel’s representative said in a statement. “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.”
By the looks of it, Joel’s disapproval is the main reason the biopic is being framed around Mazur and Small, rather than Joel himself.
If this happens, it would be completely different from other biopics approved by their subjects, such as Rocketman, A Complete Unknown, and Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere.
Despite that, Mazur assured that the movie would be the “most honest, heartfelt, and authentic portrayal of Joel’s early life.”
What is Billy Joel’s Biopic About?
Instead of telling his whole life story, the upcoming Billy Joel biopic will focus on his early life before he became famous and prior to the release of his iconic album Piano Man.
Told through Irwin Mazur’s point of view, it will reveal how he first discovered Joel in 1966, signed him in 1970, and oversaw his career until he secured a deal with Columbia Records in 1972.
“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,” Mazur said. “Billy & Me is grounded in truth, shaped with care, and built with the insight of people who genuinely know and love Billy.”
Having been there since Joel began his career, Mazur added that the film will capture “not just the music, but the friendships, struggles, humor, and creative spark that defined those years.”
“Too often, stories about artists get lost in exaggeration or mythmaking. Billy & Me reflects the real history with integrity and respect,” he continued. “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.”
Casting for the Billy Joel biopic has reportedly begun, while its release date has yet to be revealed.
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