Timothée Chalamet, the acclaimed actor known for his captivating performances, is set to portray the legendary Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown. However, despite stepping into the shoes of the iconic singer-songwriter, Chalamet has yet to meet Dylan in person. In a recent interview on *The Zane Lowe Show*, released on November 11, the 28-year-old actor shared his thoughts about the role and his connection to the music legend.
“I never met him,” Chalamet admitted, reflecting on Dylan’s reclusive nature at 83 years old. “He’s sort of retreated from the public eye. Never met him. Would love to!” The actor added with a laugh that while he hasn’t had personal interactions with Dylan, he has seen him perform live.
Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan in A Complete Unknown, directed by James Mangold, explores the early years of the folk icon’s career. Interestingly, Dylan was involved in the film’s development; he approved the script and even made modifications, with some lines directly attributed to him. “There was one I was saying to Jim Mangold… ‘This is good, man. When did you come up with this?’ He goes, ‘Bob put that in,’” Chalamet revealed.
To authentically bring Dylan’s character to life, Chalamet committed to performing and singing Dylan’s music live on set. He decided against using pre-recorded audio for lip-syncing, stating that it didn’t “make sense” for his portrayal. Instead, he embraced a raw and genuine approach to embodying Dylan’s spirit. “Bob did not have a vocal coach. He had two bottles of red wine and four packs of cigarettes. There’s no way to impersonate that,” he noted.
The film features an impressive cast alongside Chalamet, including Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. A Complete Unknown is set against the backdrop of New York’s vibrant music scene in the early 1960s and chronicles Dylan’s rise from a young folk artist to a revolutionary figure in music history.
Chalamet expressed how deeply meaningful this role has been for him, describing moments during filming that brought him to tears. “It felt like it was the most dignified work I’d ever done,” he shared. The film is scheduled for release in the U.S. on December 25 and in the U.K. on January 17.
As anticipation builds for A Complete Unknown, fans are eager to see how Timothée Chalamet captures the essence of Bob Dylan and brings his story to life on screen.
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