When James Mangold announced A Complete Unknown, a film about Bob Dylan’s transformative rise to fame, fans speculated about which legendary artists would make appearances. Johnny Cash, with whom Dylan formed a real-life friendship, seemed like a likely candidate. However, Mangold opted not to bring back Joaquin Phoenix, who had played Cash in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line.
Phoenix’s return would have been distracting and overshadowed the film’s central narrative, which focuses on Dylan’s relationships and creative evolution. Additionally, Phoenix is no longer the right age to play Cash during this specific chapter of Dylan’s life. Casting him would have required significant adjustments to the story or distracting makeup and CGI effects, none of which align with Mangold’s grounded filmmaking approach.
By recasting Cash with Boyd Holbrook, Mangold was able to reinforce the idea that A Complete Unknown is about Dylan’s story, not a continuation of Walk the Line. Holbrook’s performance adds depth to the film without taking it over, allowing the audience to focus on Dylan’s journey.
The decision not to bring back Phoenix also allowed Mangold to tell a new and distinct story. A Complete Unknown is a biographical movie that follows a young Bob Dylan as he integrates with New York and catches the eye of the folk singers in the area, eventually propelling him into stardom.
