Editor and director John Ottman is set to helm an upcoming feature film titled “Billy & Me,” which will delve into the formative years of superstar singer-pianist Billy Joel. This cinematic project aims to chronicle Joel’s life before he achieved widespread fame and before the release of his iconic 1973 song and album, “Piano Man,” which ultimately propelled him to stardom. The film focuses on the crucial period of his early career and personal development.

“Billy & Me” is designed to tell Joel’s origin story through the distinct perspectives of two individuals who were integral to his early journey: Irwin Mazur, his first manager, and Jon Small, his longtime friend and drummer. Mazur is credited with discovering Joel in 1966, signing him in 1970, and guiding his career up to his pivotal deal with Columbia Records in 1972. Small, who played drums with Joel in their early bands, The Hassles and the acid-rock duo Attila (whose 1970 album Joel famously dubbed “psychedelic bullshit”), is deeply involved as a consultant, co-executive producer, and second unit director, having secured his exclusive life rights alongside Mazur's.

Crucially, the film will proceed without Billy Joel’s official approval, rights to his music, or his life rights. A representative for Joel explicitly stated that he has not authorized or supported this project, and any attempt to move forward without his rights would be “legally and professionally misguided.” This significant limitation explains the narrative’s reliance on Mazur and Small’s perspectives to recount Joel’s early life and career, ensuring the story is told from the viewpoint of those closest to him during that period.

Casting for “Billy & Me” is currently underway, with production slated to commence this fall in Winnipeg, Canada, and New York. This feature will follow the two-part 2025 HBO documentary about the singer, “And So It Goes.” The script for “Billy & Me” is being penned by filmmaker Adam Ripp, who will also produce the film under his ArtPhyl Pictures banner. Financing is being assembled by Jay Cohen, formerly of the Gersh Agency, who is also representing domestic distribution. Grammy Award-nominated music executive Mitchell Leib, who spent nearly three decades as President of Music and Soundtracks at The Walt Disney Studios, serves as the film’s executive music producer.

Both Jon Small and John Ottman have shared their vision for the film. Small describes it as “the most honest, heartfelt, and authentic portrayal of Billy’s early life and rise,” emphasizing that it is “grounded in truth, shaped with care, and built with the insight of people who genuinely know and love Billy.” Ottman, who most recently served as lead editor on the “Michael” biopic, expressed pride in shaping “Billy & Me” into a “deeply emotional and fun story.” He noted that he was drawn to the humanity at its core, particularly the formative relationship between Billy and Mazur, who recognized Joel’s talent even before Joel himself.

The narrative may also explore the complex personal dynamics involving Joel, Small, and Elizabeth Weber, Joel’s first wife and the muse for several of his well-known songs. Weber’s departure from Small to be with Joel contributed to the dissolution of their band Attila. Later, Joel’s struggles with deep depression and suicide attempts, as discussed in “And So It Goes,” saw Small intervene and rush him to the hospital after one such attempt. This event led to a reconciliation between the friends, and subsequently between Joel and Weber, who later became his manager. The film's specific portrayal of this intricate chapter remains to be seen.