Boyd Holbrook will fall into a burning ring of fire later this month as he plays Johnny Cash in James Mangold “A complete stranger.” At the Gotham Awards in New York on Monday, December 2, the star revealed the preparation it takes to play one of the most beloved musicians of all time.

“I think digging my own body to have that resonance that Johnny has was the biggest part,” Holbrook told IndieWire. “I didn’t play guitar or sing at first. It was a crash course in learning how to do it as quickly as possible; It’s the best thing I had to do. I had to immerse myself in something for three to four hours a day, for months and months at a time, and absorb it so much that it became like an existence, and you weren’t really acting.

First reactions to the film praised leader Timothée Chalamet performance as Bob Dylan with the actor set to receive his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

“I think Timmy disappears in this role,” Holbrook said of his performance. “He had so much preparation. He’s a fantastic musician. He’s a great performer. I think it’s some of the best work I’ve seen on set, where you just let it exist and let the creature exist. He told me on set, “When it’s over, it’s over, so let’s keep it that way for now.” I find it really special and there aren’t many artists like that around.

The cast also includes Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie.

“A Complete Unknown” premieres December 25 in Searchlight theaters. Check out the trailer here.