Over 40 years after HBO aired his Live From Long Island special, the cable network is back in business with Billy Joel.
The Piano Man star is the subject of a two-part documentary – Billy Joel: And So It Goes – that will launch this summer.
The two-part is directed by Susan Lacy, who created PBS’ American Masters series and has directed HBO docs Jane Fonda in Five Acts and Spielberg, and Jessica Levin, who produced those docs as well as The Janes.
The doc will explore the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting, per the logline. It includes access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with one-on-one interviews.
It comes after Joel revealed that he was postponing months of touring due to a medical condition.
Joel has been the subject of a number of documentaries in the past including The Last Play at Shea Stadium and A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia about his trip to that country
Billy Joel: And So It Goes is produced by Lacy and Levin’s Pentimento Production, Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner’s Hazy Mills Productions and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone for HBO Documentary Films. It is exec produced by Hanks, Goetzman, Milliner, Hayes, Steve Cohen, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Sara Rodriguez.
Susan Lacy said, “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. 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. We are gratified that Bill trusted us with his story, which we have told as honestly as possible, diving into territory which has not been explored before.”
