Billy Joel Blasts Planned Biopic Billy & Me, Confirms It Won’t Have Music Rights

On Tuesday, it was reported that a Billy Joel biopic entitled Billy & Me, to be directed by Michael and Bohemian Rhapsody editor John Ottman, was in the works. Turns out that the Piano Man is displeased. In a new statement, a representative for Joel has told Variety that he does not support the project, calling its development “legally and professionally misguided.”

Here’s the full statement, courtesy of Variety:

“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. 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.”

Billy & Me is told from the point of view of Irwin Mazur, Joel’s first manager, as the Ottman film has secured the exclusive life rights for both him as well as Joel collaborator Jon Small.

Biopics have moved forward without actually having the rights to the music of the artists involved — as one example, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla was able to elude to Elvis Presley’s discography without any of his most famous songs. It’s still a big obstacle, however, and the reason why most biopics are made with the cooperation of the artist’s estate. That’s still no guarantee of quality, however — as the worst music biopics reveal.