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

EXCLUSIVE: With Benedict Cumberbatch departing the project following scheduling issues, Searchlight Pictures and James Mangold‘s Bob Dylan Pic A Complete Unknown has found his replacement to play Pete Seeger tapping Edward Norton to join the ensemble. Timothee Chalamet is set to play Dylan with Elle Fanning on board to play Slyvie Russo. Mangold will direct.

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

Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York) wrote the script, with Mangold handling revisions. Dylan’s longtime manager Jeff Rosen will produce alongside Veritas Entertainment Group’s Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer and Peter Jaysen, Automatik’s Fred Berger, The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman, and Mangold. Exec producers include Dylan, as well as Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Andrew Rona.

The Oscar-nominated Norton 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 was also recently seen starring opposite Daniel Craig in the Knives Out sequel Glass Onion. He is repped by UTA.