Boyd Holbrook (Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic)

Hollywood Actor Looks Unrecognizable As Johnny Cash In New Biopic

If you saw The Queen with Helen Mirren or Capote starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, you that the wizardry of Hollywood makeup pros can physically transform an actor into a famous person. They become nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. That phenomenon has happened again in a new biopic about Bob Dylan called A Complete Unknown, directed by James Mangold and starring Timothee Chalamet. However, per Variety, "But there's a dark horse hiding in this story of Dylan's overnight success and controversial decision to use electric guitars in the mid-'60s: an unrecognizable Boyd Holbrook playing Johnny Cash as you've never seen him."

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Joaquin Phoenix portrayed Cash to the harrowing emotional and physical hilt in I Walk The Line. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his stunning performance in the 2005 film. That movie was also helmed by James Mangold. Does Holbrook similarly do Cash justice? Variety referred to him in awe as "a scene stealer." Holbrook was tasked with being Cash in all his inglorious inebriation and brilliant artistry. We'll see how he did!

Making The Physical Transformation Was A Process For Holbrook

His Weight Was An Issue At First

Holbrook shared with Variety that "I came into shooting 10 lbs. underweight, because this time in John's life would have been his amphetamine [era]. Jim [Mangold] took one look at me and told me to gain at least 8 lbs., but we decided we needed something to round out my face. But a little nose goes a long way. That's what I want to do, play make believe at the highest level. And the artists Jim puts together are so incredible."

He said he also had to work on his voice to emulate Cash closely and practice playing the guitar.

There Were Other Hurdles Boyd Holbrook Faced

He Had To Get The Musicianship Of Johnny Cash Just Right

He portrayed Cash in an integral scene at the Newport Folk Festival for the film. Holbrook said, "They told me they wanted it exactly how Johnny did it on that day. I had to step it up from 100% to 160%, sped up the entire thing."