‘Genius in Every Role He Plays’: Users Discuss Prominent Actor Playing Bob Dylan in Upcoming Biopic ‘A Complete Unknown’
This 28-year-old actor’s casting as a legendary musician has sparked an online debate. Despite years of preparation, fans remain divided on whether he’s the right fit.
Timothée Chalamet is set to portray music legend Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold. The film explores Dylan’s groundbreaking decision to use an electric guitar at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival—a moment that redefined his sound, divided fans, and reshaped the music world.
Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” | Source: Getty Images
This pivotal event solidified Dylan’s status as a cultural icon, marking a seismic shift in the music scene of the 20th century and forever changing the trajectory of rock and folk music.
Bob Dylan plays harmonica and guitar in a recording studio in 1962 | Source: Getty Images
Chalamet leads a stellar cast that includes Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Scoot McNairy, Boyd Holbrook, Monica Barbaro, and Charlie Tahan. With Mangold at the helm and a script co-written by Jay Cocks and Elijah Wald, the film promises an intimate exploration of Dylan’s transformation.
Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet film A Complete Unknown in Paterson, New Jersey, on April 9, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
For Chalamet, portraying Dylan has been a journey for years in the making. Originally given four months to prepare, delays due to the pandemic and Hollywood strikes extended that time to five years.
Instead of letting the extra time go to waste, Chalamet used it to fully immerse himself in Dylan’s world.
Timothée Chalamet films as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” in New York City on March 24, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
“I started off hardly knowing a thing about Dylan,” Chalamet admitted in a recent Rolling Stone interview. Over time, he became what he described as a “devoted disciple in the Church of Bob,” immersing himself in the artist’s music and even obsessing over lesser-known outtakes like 1963’s “Percy’s Song.”
Reflecting on his preparation, he shared that he pushed himself to the limits, both physically and mentally, to fully commit to the role.
His approach involved more than just studying the music. He worked with vocal, guitar, dialect, and movement coaches—plus a harmonica expert—to capture Dylan’s unique sound and style. At times, he even showed up to singing lessons speaking in Dylan’s...
