Mr. Chalamet, Could You Serenade Us?
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Timothée Chalamet is transitioning from Barb to Bob, taking on the role of Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, set to release on December 25. We’ll soon witness the fruits of Chalamet's extensive preparation, which included immersing himself in a "12-hour playlist" of unreleased Dylan tracks. The film focuses on the pivotal Newport Music Festival when Dylan famously went electric—a moment previously depicted in Todd Haynes's I’m Not There and also alluded to in Factory Girl.
Ladies and gentlemen, the trailer is here.
In the latest trailer for A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet fully embraces the rock-star lifestyle, showcasing a remarkable vocal impression as he covers “Girl From the North Country” and “Like a Rolling Stone.” The film chronicles Dylan’s emotionally charged ascent to fame as he leaves Minnesota to find inspiration in New York. Chalamet captures the essence of a young Dylan, smoking, singing, and navigating a love triangle while wrestling with his musical identity. Though some want to tone down his electric performance, he’s determined to play it loud. Catch the full clip above and feel the Bob Dylan energy!
What do we know so far? Filming concluded in early July, with behind-the-scenes photos of Chalamet on set, sporting sunglasses and reading on a bench.
Mangold shared details about the project during the Cannes Film Festival last May while promoting Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, revealing that Benedict Cumberbatch was initially cast as folk legend Pete Seeger. Seeger was instrumental in supporting Dylan before he became famous and even invited him to Newport. However, due to scheduling conflicts, Ed Norton stepped in, and photos show him strumming a banjo on set.
Who else is in the cast? Alongside Chalamet and Norton, the cast includes Monica Barbaro from Top Gun: Maverick as Joan Baez and Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, a fictionalized early ’60s love interest of Dylan. Boyd Holbrook will portray Johnny Cash, as revealed by the director in a recent Rolling Stone interview. Additional cast members include Scoot McNairy, Dan Fogler, Will Harrison, Charlie Tahan, P.J. Byrne, Eli Brown, Nick Pupo, Big Bill Morganfield, Laura Kariuki, Eric Berryman, David Alan Basche, Joe Tippett, and James Austin Johnson, although specific character details have not been disclosed.
Is Timmy really singing live? Yes! Mangold confirmed that Chalamet and Barbaro recorded their performances live as Dylan and Baez. “If Timmy’s brave enough to stand out there and make himself vulnerable, I should be brave enough to stand behind the camera and shoot,” Mangold stated. The multiple COVID-related production delays allowed Chalamet and Barbaro to refine their musical skills, with Mangold noting, “Timmy was a partner in this. He very much wanted to.”
What’s the release date? The release date for A Complete Unknown is indeed set for December 25, as Mangold has fast-tracked the post-production schedule to make this Christmas debut possible.
This post has been updated.
Sources: Deadline
Related: Timothée Chalamet Is Hoarding Unreleased Bob Dylan Songs, Timothée Chalamet Wants Austin Butler’s Elvis to Be in His Bob Dylan Movie, Timothée Chalamet Is a Singer, Actually, Timothée Chalamet Will Be Going Electric as Bob Dylan in New Movie