Amanda Seyfried has made it clear—she has no interest in playing Joni Mitchell in Cameron Crowe’s upcoming biopic, despite widespread fan enthusiasm following her recent musical performance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.
During her appearance on the late-night show, Amanda Seyfried delivered a heartfelt and skillful cover of a verse from Mitchell’s 1971 classic California. Her performance wasn’t just vocally impressive—she also accompanied herself on the dulcimer, a signature instrument of the folk legend. Hitting the song’s signature high notes with precision, Amanda Seyfried left the audience in awe, leading fans to speculate whether this was an unofficial audition for the coveted role in Crowe’s film.
Social media quickly erupted with calls for Amanda Seyfried to be cast as the younger version of Mitchell, with many believing she had both the musical talent and the charisma to embody the legendary singer-songwriter on screen. However, Seyfried has since addressed the rumors and firmly shut down the idea that she’s pursuing the role.
“It was not an audition,” Amanda Seyfried clarified on the Just for Variety podcast. “In fact, I didn’t even consider that, which is funny. What I know about that project is that I’m very, very much aged-out of [playing] young Joni.”
Though her stunning Tonight Show cover may have sparked speculation, Seyfried remains focused on her current projects. She is set to star in Long Bright River, Peacock’s highly anticipated adaptation of Liz Moore’s bestselling novel. In the gritty crime drama, Amanda Seyfried takes on the role of Mickey Fitzpatrick, a determined police officer navigating the harsh realities of Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, where a serial killer is targeting sex workers. When her estranged sister, Casey (played by Ashleigh Cummings), disappears, Mickey is forced to confront her past while unraveling the mystery.
While fans may have hoped to see Amanda Seyfried transform into Joni Mitchell on the big screen, it’s clear that the actress has other priorities. Whether she’s tackling a challenging role in a crime thriller or delivering a mesmerizing dulcimer performance on national television, Amanda Seyfried continues to prove that her talent knows no bounds.