Willy Wonka, Paul Atreides…Accruing legendary roles is Timothée Chalamet’s forte. Currently, he is filming A Complete Unknown, his upcoming blockbuster flick in which he will assume the role of iconic singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan.
However, is Mr. Perfect Jawline able to emulate Dylan’s youthful, edgy, tousled energy—the man known as the greatest songwriter of all time? It appears that he really can. The first images of Chalamet dressed as the acclaimed singer are making the rounds, and we could not be more relieved to be proven wrong.
Pictures of Chalamet dressed as Bob Dylan have been going viral everywhere, as the Wonka and Dune star is in New York City filming the biopic, helmed by James Mangold. Even this week, the actor, 28, was spotted around New York City again playing the renowned folk music hitmaker.
Behind the Scenes: Timothée Chalamet Channels Bob Dylan on New York Streets
It was a night shoot, but Timothée Chalamet looked like he was wearing a classic Bob Dylan look—curly hair, sunglasses, a black button-up, and a brown jacket—when the former was spotted in Downtown Manhattan, according to EW. Scenes were being filmed in and around El Quijote, the Hotel Chelsea restaurant that served as Dylan’s primary source of musical inspiration.
With a cast of buzzy young actors, many of whom will play now-famous musicians, the film is set in the 1960s downtown NYC music scene. The Interstellar actor was also observed during a daytime scene in a nearby park, where director James Mangold coached Chalamet through a scene, in which he had to read a letter while sitting on a bench.
Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan on the set of ‘A COMPLETE UNKNOWN’pic.twitter.com/ziCSIlXH20
— Fashiotainment (@fashiotainment) March 17, 2024
Previously obtained images from the set showed Chalamet sporting various Dylan ensembles, including a paperboy hat, scarf, and jeans from the ’60s, along with a battered guitar case. Though there is not much information available about Mangold’s upcoming Dylan biopic, Chalamet appears committed to the look and the music.
The film follows a “young, 19-year-old Bob Dylan coming to New York with two dollars in his pocket” before “becoming a worldwide sensation within three years”, as the director shared with Collider last year.
Mangold, 60, described the plot as
“First being embraced into a family of folk music in New York and of course kind of outrunning him at a certain point as his star rises so beyond belief.”
Also, the forthcoming flick will include on-screen tributes to other legendary figures from the era, such as Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Woody Guthrie (per PEOPLE). Dylan’s love interest, Sylvie Russo, will be portrayed by Elle Fanning, and Edward Norton will assume the role of Pete Seeger.
Decoding Timothée Chalamet’s Intensive Character Study Approach
As per the report by PEOPLE, Timothée Chalamet, who most recently starred in the highly regarded film Dune: Part Two, attended Bob Dylan’s high school in Hibbing, Minnesota, to prepare for the role. He spent time in the school’s Hibbing Auditorium with the drama department.
After his visit, the department posted on Facebook, describing him as a “total gem”. They further added:
“In town researching all things Bob Dylan for an upcoming biopic, he asked his tour guide if he could meet with the drama students who were working on their competition one act.”
He also had a one-on-one conversation about acting and theater with the school’s students. The post went on:
“After our guest left, our students had their final dress rehearsal. And they nailed it. Something must have inspired them.”
Regarding Chalamet’s dedication to the role, Eric Vetro, his vocal coach, stated in a recent interview with PEOPLE that audiences
“Are going to be shocked because you are going to think you are hearing Bob Dylan sing. Once again, he just has this uncanny ability to not impersonate, but really breathe life into it. He’s embodying Bob Dylan and what he was like at that age.”
This is probably something you already know, but just in case! American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman) is most known for his folk records. His compositions include Like a Rolling Stone & Blowin’ in the Wind. He is regarded by many as one of the all-time great songwriters, and his lyrics have earned him a Pulitzer and a Nobel Prize. Contrary to what some people often believe, he is still alive.
As of the time of this writing, there is no release date for A Complete Unknown.