Timothée Chalamet Stars as Bob Dylan in New Film ‘A Complete Unknown’

The upcoming film ‘A Complete Unknown‘, starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, has released its much-anticipated trailer, showcasing the actor grappling with the pressures of fame during Dylan’s rise in the music industry. “Two hundred people in that room and each one wants me to be somebody else,” Chalamet’s Dylan says in the trailer, capturing the internal conflict of the iconic musician.

The film, directed by James Mangold, traces Dylan’s journey from his beginnings in Minnesota to his landmark electric performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. The trailer sets the stage for a dramatic reimagining of Dylan’s early career, culminating with Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan’s controversial electric conversion while performing “Like a Rolling Stone” in front of a divided audience.

‘A Complete Unknown’ offers a rich ensemble cast, with Monica Barbaro playing Joan Baez, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Edward Norton as folk legend Pete Seeger, and Boyd Holbrook taking on the role of Johnny Cash. Norbert Leo Butz, Dan Fogler, and Scoot McNairy are also featured in supporting roles.

Director James Mangold emphasizes that the film is not a straightforward biopic but rather an exploration of Dylan’s multifaceted personality. Mangold reportedly described the project to Dylan himself as “a guy choking to death in his hometown of Minnesota, skyrocketing to stardom, and choking to death again before running away,” to which Dylan agreed.

Mangold has expressed his aim not to simplify Dylan into a single narrative but to showcase the complexity and evasive nature of Dylan’s character. “I didn’t want to turn Bob Dylan into a simple character,” he stated, highlighting Dylan’s lifelong avoidance of being easily defined or pigeonholed.

The movie is set to release on Christmas Day, adding to the excitement and anticipation among Dylan fans and film enthusiasts alike.

The film production caught attention earlier in the year with leaked paparazzi photos from the set. The appearance and mannerisms of Chalamet’s Dylan were praised by Dylan experts in Variety magazine, with author KG Miles noting, “He gets across the passion and the soul in Bob Dylan’s voice without making it sound like karaoke.”

‘A Complete Unknown’ is co-written by Mangold and Jay Cocks and is inspired by Elijah Wald‘s book ‘Dylan Goes Electric!’ The project brings together producers Fred Berger, Alex Heineman, Peter Jaysen, Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer, Jeff Rosen, Chalamet, and Mangold.