A Complete Unknown cast: Who plays who in Bob Dylan biopic?
Timothée Chalamet stars as the legendary singer-songwriter – here's who else appears in the new film.
There's no question that Bob Dylan is one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century – and one with a very specific aura about him, no less – so the task of playing him in a new film is by no means an easy one.
In Todd Haynes's previous, rather experimental, 2007 biopic I'm Not There, six different actors played various aspects of his persona, with Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Ben Whishaw all starring throughout the film.
But in James Mangold's altogether more conventional A Complete Unknown, we'll see just one actor taking on the role: Timothée Chalamet.
The Dune and Wonka star has already had praise heaped upon his performance by critics and awards bodies, and it appears as if the five years he spent immersing himself in Dylan was well worth it.
Of course, Dylan isn't the only iconic figure from the '60s folk scene to appear in the film. There are also important roles in the narrative for the likes of Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Johnny Cash – the latter of whom was the subject of a biopic by the same director back in 2005, played then by Joaquin Phoenix.
But who will be playing him this time around? And for that matter, which other actors will be appearing in the film? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of A Complete Unknown.
A Complete Unknown cast: Who plays who in Bob Dylan biopic?
You can find out the full list of actors appearing in the film below. Scroll down for some more information about the main players – including side-by-side pictures of the actors and the real musicians.
- Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan
- Edward Norton as Pete Seeger
- Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo (a renamed version of Suze Rotolo)
- Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez
- Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash
- Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie
- Dan Fogler as Albert Grossman
- Norbert Leo Butz as Alan Lomax
- PJ Byrne as Harold Leventhal
- Will Harrison as Bob Neuwirth
- Eriko Hatsune as Toshi Seeger
- Charlie Tahan as Al Kooper
- Ryan Harris Brown as Mark Spoelstra
- Eli Brown as Mike Bloomfield
- Big Bill Morganfield as Jesse Moffette
- Laura Kariuki as Becka
- Stephen Carter Carlsen as Paul Stookey
- Eric Berryman as Tom Wilson
- Joe Tippett as Dave Van Ronk
- James Austin Johnson as Gerdes MC
- Kayli Carter as Maria Muldaur
- Sarah King as Barbara Dane
- Alaina Surgener as Gena Russo
- Michael Chernus as Theodore Bikel
- Will Price as Joe Boyd
- Nick Pupo
- David Alan Basche
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Timothée Chalamet plays Bob Dylan
Who is Bob Dylan? One of the most iconic and influential cultural figures of the 20th century, Bob Dylan is a revered and beloved singer-songwriter who first rose to fame as part of New York's Greenwich Village folk music scene in the 1960s. A Complete Unknown follows him during those early days and charts his controversial decision to go electric – a move that saw him branded a traitor by purists at the time.
What else has Timothée Chalamet been in? After early roles on Homeland and in Interstellar, Chalamet first really broke through with his Oscar-nominated leading turn in Call Me By Your Name. Since then, he's become one of the biggest movie stars in the world, with highlights including Lady Bird, Little Women, The French Dispatch, Dune, Bones and All, and Wonka.
Edward Norton plays Pete Seeger
Who is Pete Seeger? Another legendary folk musician and activist – and one who had a huge influence in the aforementioned '60s scene – Seeger was deeply impressed by the young Dylan and was one of his earliest backers.
What else has Edward Norton been in? Norton first came to fame after appearing in a string of successful films in the mid-to-late '90s, including Primal Fear, American History X and Fight Club. He's since become a well established A-lister, with other major credits including 25th Hour, Kingdom of Heaven, The Bourne Legacy, Birdman, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and several films by Wes Anderson such as Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Elle Fanning plays Sylvie Russo
Who is Sylvie Russo? Russo is a renamed version of Suze Rotolo, who was Dylan’s girlfriend at the time of events depicted in the film and served as a huge inspiration for many of his lyrics. Dylan requested that the film not use her real name.
What else has Elle Fanning been in? Like her sister Dakota, Fanning first came to prominence as a child star with roles in films such as Daddy Day Care, Babel, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Somewhere and Super 8. Other major credits have included Maleficent, The Neon Demon, 20th Century Women and The Beguiled, as well as TV roles in The Great and The Girl from Plainville.
Monica Barbaro plays Joan Baez
Who is Joan Baez? Another iconic folk singer, Baez was closely involved with Dylan during the '60s – both musically and personally.
What else has Monica Barbaro been in? Barbaro's biggest film credit to date was playing Natasha 'Phoenix' Trace in Top Gun: Maverick, while she's appeared in a number of TV shows including Chicago Justice, The Good Cop, Splitting Up Together, and FUBAR.
Boyd Holbrook plays Johnny Cash
Who is Johnny Cash? Arguably the most famed country musician the world has ever produced, Cash moved in many of the same circles as Dylan in the '60s and the two musicians shared a mutual admiration.
What else has Boyd Holbrook been in? Holbrook is known for prominent roles in TV shows such as Narcos and The Sandman and for appearing in a string of major films such as Logan, The Predator, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and The Bikeriders.
Scoot McNairy plays Woody Guthrie
Who is Woody Guthrie? Dylan's biggest idol, Guthrie was another hugely influential folk singer and songwriter whose music and activism both served as major inspirations for the young Dylan.
What else has Scoot McNairy been in? Character actor McNairy is known for appearing in a number of films including Monsters, Argo, Killing Them Softly, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, C'Mon C'Mon, Blonde, Speak No Evil, and Nightbitch. Meanwhile, on the small screen, he's had prominent roles in Halt and Catch Fire, Godless, Narcos: Mexico and the third season of True Detective.
Dan Fogler plays Albert Grossman
Who is Albert Grossman? Dylan's manager during the '60s, Grossman was an influential figure in the American folk music scene.
What else has Dan Fogler been in? Fogler is perhaps best known for his role as Jacob Kowalski in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them films, while he's also had recurring roles in The Goldbergs and The Walking Dead and played Francis Ford Coppola in The Offer.
A Complete Unknown will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 17th January 2024.
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Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
