Unveiling the Legend: First Look at Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan

Minnesota in the house!!

Bob Dylan, considered one the greatest songwriter of all time, will be commended with a biopic for his influence on pop culture. Dylan has over 60 superlative years in the music industry under his belt.

The movie, A Complete Unknown, is directed by James Mangold and written by Mangold and Jay Cocks. It’s based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald. It’s a period piece based on Bob’s early career. According to Mangold, it can’t be called biographical exactly, but a dramatic take on a famous person’s life.

The Movie’s Focus: Bob Dylan’s Electrifying Transformation

Among Bob’s early career this movie revolves around the controversy surrounding Bob’s switch to electrically amplified instruments. Timothee Chalamet will be playing Bob Dylan.

Timothee Chalamet as Bob

Timothee Chalamet has been looking particularly groovy in his Bob Dylan get up. 

Timothee Chalamet has received two Golden Globe nominations for Call Me By Your Name and Beautiful Boy. His success can largely be owed to the fact that he is known to take roles out of his comfort zone, and he delivers the best performances every time he takes on a challenge, by being adaptable to fit into his character.

One moment we’re watching him as young Willy Wonka and the next, as Paul Atreides in Dune: Part 2.

“You try to make yourself as clay-like, as malleable as possible—a blip in the radar, a wallflower, somebody who comes prepared and is ready to go and maybe have an idea or trick up your sleeve, something you want to try out.” Chalamet has advised before regarding acting.

You can see the amount of hard work he has put into fitting into his role as Bob. Even though the movie has been on hold for almost 4 years now, Chalamet has been researching Dylan’s role, visiting his homes, and talking to Dylan himself for further instruction. 

This all begs the question, “Will he also be the one singing?” Because, if he is, then he would have to match Bob Dylan’s exact pitch and tone. Hopefully, this will answer your question: Chalamet, before the filming, had also been taking vocal and movement coaching from the same team that worked with Austin Butler for his performance in Elvis.

Among the other cast, Elle Fanning was cast to play Sylvie Russo, a character based on Suze Rotolo, famous American artists and Dylan’s girlfriend who inspired some of his finest creations. Among  other supporting actors are Benedict Cumberbatch who will be portraying Pete Seeger in the film, and Monica Barbaro, playing Joan Baez.

A glimpse of the future

🎵Oh where have you been my blue-eyed son, oh where have you been my darling young one🎵

The teaser of the film was released on 24 July, and was able to score close to five hundred thousand views within the first couple of hours that it was released. 

The setting of the movie looks to be during the 1960s while Bob is trying to find a place for himself in the big city. You can witness him through his meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts, his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation and finally, culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

Oof, that was quite a rise, but we ✨dig ✨  it.

Oscar Bait? A Complete Unknown and the Path to Glory

There’s speculation about A Complete Unknown being just another “Oscar bait” movie. 

“The academies love this sort of films, just take a biopic about a really famous artist, throw in some big stars and names, and boom, it’s Oscar bait.” Said a review of the film’s teaser. Although, what stems from this most of the time are really amazing movies.

For us, it’s like you feel you’ve been listening to Bob’s songs for your whole life, but you still don’t know much about his backstory? Which is why we’re looking forward to watching the movie and finding out the history and the backstory behind the greatest legend, that is Bob Dylan.
A Complete Unknown premiers in US theaters in December 2024.