Music legend Bob Dylan has shown complete faith in Timothée Chalamet's ability to embody him in the eagerly awaited biopic 'A Complete Unknown,' set to debut this Christmas Day. The iconic singer-songwriter, famous for his poetic lyrics and impact on 1960s music, took to social media on Wednesday to voice his opinions on the film and the actor portraying him.
"There's a movie about me opening soon called 'A Complete Unknown' (what a title!)," Dylan wrote, acknowledging the upcoming release. He added, "Timothée Chalamet is starring in the lead role. Timmy'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."
Directed by James Mangold, 'A Complete Unknown' is set in the summer of 1961, when the 19-year-old Bob Dylan first arrived in New York City from Minnesota, armed with only his guitar and dreams of making it big in the music world. The film draws inspiration from Elijah Wald's 2015 book 'Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties,' which explores the pivotal moment in Dylan's career when he transitioned from folk music to rock, electrifying his sound and igniting controversy at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Dylan, known for his unconventional and often enigmatic nature, expressed his admiration for the book, calling it "a fantastic retelling of events from the early '60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport," according to The Hollywood Reporter. He suggested that viewers read the book after watching the film to gain a deeper understanding of the historical context and significance of this transformative period in his life.
Chalamet, who has garnered critical acclaim for his roles in films like 'Dune,' 'Call Me by Your Name,' 'Lady Bird,' and 'Little Women,' has openly discussed his connection to Dylan's story. In an earlier interview, the actor revealed how he sees parallels between his own rise to fame and Dylan's early struggles.
"I've had a life experience, I won't say it's weird, but I can relate to some of these things [Bob Dylan] went through," Chalamet shared, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He pointed out that both Dylan and he had dreams of achieving greatness in their respective fields — Dylan in the realm of rock 'n' roll and Chalamet in the world of cinema.
Chalamet also drew a comparison between Dylan's journey in folk music and his own career path in the indie film world, saying, "For [Dylan], it was folk music. He couldn't keep a rock 'n' roll band because they would all get hired by other kids that had more money, literally, in Minnesota. So for me, it was finding a very personal style movie," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Chalamet described his transition into filmmaking as a process of finding his rhythm and confidence, similar to how Dylan navigated the challenges of making a name for himself in the competitive world of music. 'A Complete Unknown' focuses on a pivotal moment in Dylan's early career, capturing the young artist's journey to New York City in 1961, when he was beginning to make his mark in the folk music scene.
The film will delve into not only Dylan's artistic evolution but also the cultural and musical shifts of the era, culminating in the controversial moment when Dylan famously "went electric" at the Newport Folk Festival, forever altering the course of music history. The film is expected to offer a fresh perspective on the complexities of Dylan's character and his rise to fame, as well as the internal and external challenges he faced along the way. The movie is slated to release on December 25.
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