Monica Barbaro (“Top Gun: Maverick“) will star opposite Timothée Chalamet (“Dune“) in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Barbaro is set to play iconic folk singer and activist Joan Baez. James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari“) will direct the feature and co-write the screenplay with Jay Cocks (“Silence“). Searchlight Pictures is distributing the film, and production will begin this summer in New York.
Not much is known about the plot besides that it will focus on the come-up of a young Bob Dylan (played by Chalamet) and how the legendary musician forever changed the trajectory of folk music. You can assume the film will focus somewhat on the relationship between Dylan and Baez as they would collaborate throughout their careers and eventually become romantically involved.
I think this is a pretty great casting and allows Barbaro to show what she can bring to the screen more significantly. She was a standout performer in “Top Gun: Maverick” with limited screen time and is one of the most in-demand new talents on the scene today following that film’s success. Also, with Mangold set to direct, you know he can draw out two fantastic performances from both of these leads as he did with his previous music-focused biopic “Walk The Line,” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, who would go on to win an Academy Award for her performance in the film. I am very interested to see the dynamic between Dylan and Baez played out on screen and what nuance Chalamet and Barbaro bring to these impressionable characters.
Do you think Monica Barbaro is a good casting for Joan Baez? Are you excited for James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown?” How do you feel about Chalamet playing Bob Dylan? Please let us know in the comments section below or over on our Twitter account. Thank you!
