Edward Norton To Play Pete Seeger In James Mangold’s Bob Dylan Pic ‘A Complete Unknown’ As Benedict Cumberbatch Departs Due To Scheduling

EXCLUSIVE: With Benedict Cumberbatch departing Searchlight Pictures and James Mangold’s Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown following scheduling issues, his replacement has been found, with Edward Norton tapped to play Pete Seeger. He now joins an ensemble that features Timothée Chalamet as Dylan and Elle Fanning on board to play Sylvie Russo. Mangold will direct.

The film is heading into production in New York this March and centers on a young Dylan (Chalamet) who shakes up the music world in 1965 when he pivots to performing with an electric guitar for the first time. Fanning will play the role of Dylan’s early-’60s love interest, a university student and artist.

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Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York) wrote the script, with Mangold handling revisions.

Range’s Fred Berger, Veritas Entertainment Group’s Peter Jaysen, Bob Bookman, and Alan Gasmer, The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman, Jeff Rosen and Mangold are producing

The Oscar-nominated Norton is best known for roles in Primal Fear and American History X has been busy as of late, last seen reuniting with Wes Anderson in Asteroid City. He also recently starred opposite Daniel Craig in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out sequel Glass Onion.

He is repped by UTA.

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