Edward Norton on why he doesn’t want to discuss his prep work for “A Complete Unknown”:
“We’re getting so hung up on process and the behind-the-scenes thing that we’re blowing the magic trick of it all. We’re starting to have this tendency to talk about how we did it before… pic.twitter.com/TY4Y1KW6OD
— Variety (@Variety) January 4, 2025
Actor Ed Norton, who plays Pete Seeger in A Complete Unknown, talked to Variety about the film and playing a folk icon. He also discussed why he’s not keen to delve too far into his preparation process:
I kind of think that we might be getting into this era where it’s like the old thing of the snake that eats its own tail. I think we’re getting so hung up on process and the behind-the-scenes thing that we’re blowing the magic trick of it all. I actually think we’re starting to have this tendency to talk about how we did it before we’ve even put it out. I had an experience recently where there was something I was sort of interested in seeing, and I saw so many goddamn clips about the makeup process, I was just like: It’s just cooked for me now. They’ve cooked it.
…I’m just starting to feel all of us should just leave people alone. Like, leave ’em alone; let ’em watch the piece. Because I am an audience member, and I want mystery. I want illusion.
He also likens it to Bob Dylan’s own reluctance to let people behind the curtain, so to speak.
