New Billy Joel Doc on HBO Will Dive Into Subjects Not ‘Explored Before’
- HBO announced a new two-part documentary about Billy Joel's life and music, directed by Susan Lacy, featuring never-seen performances and interviews with people close to him.
A new Piano Man documentary is on its way. On Wednesday, HBO announced Billy Joel: And So It Goes , a two-part documentary about the artist's life and music and the meaning behind his songwriting.
Susan Lacy — who created American Masters and directed the Spielberg documentary for HBO — will also produce and direct the two-part film meant to be an "expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel," according to its official synopsis.
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"For those who think they know Joel's story, as well as those who are not as familiar, I believe this two-part film is both a revelation and a surprise," Lacy said in a press release. "I was drawn to his story as someone who knew little at the outset, and was astounded at how autobiographical his songs are and how complex his story is."
The film project will explore how loss, love and his life struggles fueled his songwriting. It's set to feature never-seen performances, home videos, personal photos, and lengthy interviews with the people in his vicinity.
Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Todd Milliner, Sean Hayes, and Steve Cohen will serve as executive producers, while Emma Pildes joins as a producer. Kris Liem, James Pilott, and Steven Ross will edit the film. Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez will exec-produce for HBO.
"We are gratified that Bill trusted us with his story, which we have told as honestly as possible, diving into territory that has not been explored before," Lacy added.
The announcement comes just several days after Joel postponed all of his concerts over the next few months because of a surgery for a "medical condition" that requires physical therapy and the supervision of a doctor. While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first," he said earlier this month.
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