As first reported by Deadline, award-nominated actress Elle Fanning is joining forces with Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown.” This highly anticipated project is directed by two-time Oscar nominee James Mangold for Searchlight Pictures and is set to offer an intimate portrayal of a pivotal period in Dylan’s life.
Slated to begin production in New York this summer, “A Complete Unknown” centers around a young Dylan, played by Chalamet, during his revolutionary shift in the music world in 1965. This was when Dylan, previously known for his acoustic folk sound, made the controversial move to performing with an electric guitar. Fanning steps into the role of Dylan’s early ’60s love interest, the university student and artist Sylvie Russo.
Jay Cocks, renowned for his work on “Gangs of New York,” has penned the script, with Mangold handling revisions. The production team is a collaboration of significant industry figures, including Dylan’s longtime manager Jeff Rosen, Veritas Entertainment Group’s Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer and Peter Jaysen, Automatik’s Fred Berger, The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman, and Mangold himself. Dylan will also serve as an executive producer, along with Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Andrew Rona.
This casting news arrives during a period of significant recognition for Fanning, who has been nominated for multiple prestigious awards, including Emmys, Critics’ Choice Awards, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Gotham Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards. Currently, she stars in the historical satire “The Great,” created by Tony McNamara, which launched its third season on Hulu on May 12th.
Fanning has earned a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses, delivering notable performances in a diverse range of roles. Her past work includes leading Hulu’s crime drama miniseries “The Girl from Plainville,” starring in two “Maleficent” films for Disney, and appearing in a multitude of other titles such as “Teen Spirit,” “Mary Shelley,” “The Beguiled,” “20th Century Women,” “The Neon Demon,” “Trumbo,” “We Bought a Zoo,” “Twixt,” “Super 8,” “Somewhere,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and “Babel.”
With Fanning joining the roster, “A Complete Unknown” is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited films of its production year. While we await further updates on this intriguing project, it’s clear that Fanning, Chalamet, and Barbaro will bring a wealth of talent and authenticity to this exploration of Dylan’s iconic era.
