Bob Dylan Praises Timothée Chalamet as 'Brilliant Actor' Ahead of Biopic: 'He's Going to Be Completely Believable as Me'

Mar. 15, 2025

Bob Dylan; Timothee Chalamet.Photo:Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Cindy Ord/Getty

Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Cindy Ord/Getty

Timothée Chalamethas the ultimate seal of approval to playBob Dylanin the upcoming biopicA Complete Unknown— that of Dylan himself!

The folk-rock legend, 83, officially threw his support behind Chalamet, 28, ina post on X(formerly Twitter) Wednesday, Dec. 4, exactly three weeks before theJames Mangold-directed movie opens in theaters.

“There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!),” Dylan began. “Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role. Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me.”

The musician continued, “The film’s taken from Elijah Wald’sDylan Goes Electric– a book that came out in 2015. It’s a fantastic retelling of events from the early ‘60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport. After you’ve seen the movie read the book.”

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Fanning, 26, recently praised Chalamet’s “extraordinary” performance as Dylan during a spotlight conversation on Tuesday, Dec. 3, held during The Wrap’s 2024 WrapWomenPower Women Summitat the Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

“I remember tearing up” said the actress, who plays Sylvie Russo — a character based on the real-lifeSuze Rotolo, Dylan’s girlfriend and muse during the early ’60s — inA Complete Unknown,of the first time she hear Chalamet sing as Dylan.

“And so seeing him accomplish this and this character in such a beautiful way [was moving],” added Fanning of Chalamet’s turn as the famed singer-songwriter.

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From L: Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan inA Complete Unknown(2024); Bob Dylan in the late 1960s.Searchlight Pictures ; Bettmann

Searchlight Pictures ; Bettmann

Chalamet has already beengenerating buzz for his performance, with journalist Scott Menzelwriting on Xthat he “delivers the performance of the year” as a young Dylan.

“A true tour-de-force where Chalamet is never seen,” Menzel added. “Chalamet’s performance is not just about the voice and look but rather all of the little nuances and mannerisms that he perfectly brings to his life in his portrayal of Bob Dylan.”

On Monday, Dec. 2, Chalamet received The Gotham Film & Media Institute’s Visionary Tribute honor at this year’sGotham Awardsfor his work inA Complete Unknown, alongside Mangold.

“I’m grateful to everyone who poured themselves into this project,” theOscarnominee said inhis acceptance speech, in part. “Getting to study and immerse myself in the world of Bob Dylan has been the greatest education a young artist could receive.”

A Complete Unknownis in theaters Dec. 25.

source: people.com