A Complete Unknown is an eagerly anticipated biographical film set to be directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks. Based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald, the film will delve into one of the most significant moments in music history: Bob Dylan’s controversial shift from folk to electric music in the mid-1960s. This period marked a radical transformation not just in Dylan’s career, but in the cultural landscape of the 20th century. With Mangold’s direction and the compelling source material, A Complete Unknown promises to offer a fresh and insightful look at the personal and artistic struggles behind one of the most iconic changes in music history.

The film’s central focus will be on Bob Dylan’s transition from being the beloved folk singer-songwriter to the electrified, rock-oriented artist that some of his fans and peers rejected. This shift, epitomized by his infamous performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, shook the music world and forever altered the trajectory of popular music. The film aims to explore the internal and external forces that influenced Dylan’s decision to take this bold step. As a young man, Dylan was a symbol of the counterculture movement, the voice of a generation that spoke out for civil rights, peace, and freedom. However, as he began to experiment with new sounds and genres, he faced intense backlash from his loyal fanbase, who saw his electric music as a betrayal of his folk roots.