Bob Dylan is making waves online with his enthusiastic remarks about A Complete Unknown, the upcoming biopic chronicling his early career. The legendary 83-year-old singer-songwriter recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts on the James Mangold-directed film, which stars Timothée Chalamet as a young Dylan.
“There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!),” Dylan wrote. “Timothée’s a brilliant actor, so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me.”
Dylan revealed the film draws inspiration from Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric!, which revisits the pivotal moments leading up to Dylan’s controversial electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival. “It’s a fantastic retelling of events from the early ’60s,” Dylan added. “After you’ve seen the movie, read the book.”
Set to hit theaters on December 25, A Complete Unknown promises to delve into Dylan’s transformative journey from folk hero to rock trailblazer. Dylan had some creative involvement in the project, offering input on the script, though he’s kept a low profile during production.
Chalamet’s Take: Live Performances and Dylan’s Mystique
Timothée Chalamet, fresh off the film’s LA premiere, expressed gratitude for Dylan’s praise, calling it “really, really affirming.” He acknowledged Dylan’s enigmatic nature, adding, “He’s a mysterious, elusive figure. If he or his team didn’t want me involved, I’m sure I’d have known.”
Chalamet immersed himself in the role over five years, mastering the guitar and performing all of Dylan’s songs live on set. Initially, pre-recorded tracks were planned, but Chalamet pushed for live singing. “It felt more authentic,” he explained, “even if it caused a bit of a panic on set.” Co-star Edward Norton, who plays Pete Seeger, encouraged the decision. “He said, ‘Do it live. You sound better live.’”
When asked if he’s considered a music career, Chalamet quipped, “Not in a serious way. But then again, there’s no such thing as serious writing.”
A Story of Transformation
Mangold’s film doesn’t aim for strict historical accuracy but instead offers a “fable” inspired by true events. Chalamet explained, “This isn’t a Wikipedia fact-for-fact recreation. Otherwise, you’d just watch the existing footage. It’s an interpretation.”
Joining Chalamet in the cast are Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Elle Fanning as Dylan’s girlfriend Sylvie, a fictionalized version of Suze Rotolo.
Reflecting on Dylan’s aversion to fame, Chalamet shared, “Any creative probably relates to protecting their inner voice. Dylan, in the movie’s interpretation, mastered that early on. Fame is fleeting; it’s the introspective, restless moments that fuel great art.”
Mark your calendars for December 25, when A Complete Unknown hits theaters, offering a soulful dive into the life of one of music’s most enduring legends.