This 28-year-old actor’s casting as a legendary musician has sparked an online debate. Despite years of preparation, fans remain divided on whether he’s the right fit.
Timothée Chalamet is set to portray music legend Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold. The film explores Dylan’s groundbreaking decision to use an electric guitar at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival—a moment that redefined his sound, divided fans, and reshaped the music world.
Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” | Source: Getty Images
This pivotal event solidified Dylan’s status as a cultural icon, marking a seismic shift in the music scene of the 20th century and forever changing the trajectory of rock and folk music.
Bob Dylan plays harmonica and guitar in a recording studio in 1962 | Source: Getty Images
Chalamet leads a stellar cast that includes Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Scoot McNairy, Boyd Holbrook, Monica Barbaro, and Charlie Tahan. With Mangold at the helm and a script co-written by Jay Cocks and Elijah Wald, the film promises an intimate exploration of Dylan’s transformation.
Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet film A Complete Unknown in Paterson, New Jersey, on April 9, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
For Chalamet, portraying Dylan has been a journey for years in the making. Originally given four months to prepare, delays due to the pandemic and Hollywood strikes extended that time to five years.
Instead of letting the extra time go to waste, Chalamet used it to fully immerse himself in Dylan’s world.
Timothée Chalamet films as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” in New York City on March 24, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
“I started off hardly knowing a thing about Dylan,” Chalamet admitted in a recent Rolling Stone interview. Over time, he became what he described as a “devoted disciple in the Church of Bob,” immersing himself in the artist’s music and even obsessing over lesser-known outtakes like 1963’s “Percy’s Song.”
Reflecting on his preparation, he shared that he pushed himself to the limits, both physically and mentally, to fully commit to the role.
His approach involved more than just studying the music. He worked with vocal, guitar, dialect, and movement coaches—plus a harmonica expert—to capture Dylan’s unique sound and style. At times, he even showed up to singing lessons speaking in Dylan’s voice.
For Chalamet, authenticity was key. On set, he insisted on singing and playing live rather than relying on prerecorded tracks, arguing that “you can’t re-create it in the studio.” His dedication extended to refusing shortcuts during training, earning praise from his guitar teacher for his commitment to capturing Dylan’s artistry.
Chalamet reflected on Dylan’s early career trajectory, noting how the musician initially aspired to be a rock artist but rose to fame through folk music before transitioning back to rock.
The renowned actor found a personal connection to this journey, “If he couldn’t become Elvis or Buddy Holly immediately, he found Woody Guthrie and stuff that was a little more accomplishable, and happened to be really good at it. And that immediately hit a bone with me.”
News of Chalamet’s casting has sparked lively debate online. “@tchalamet is without a doubt one of, if not the best actor os his generation! Sure it will be unique! Cant wait to see it. Greetings from Brasil 🇧🇷 [sic],” one excited fan said.
Another shared, “This guy is genius in every role he plays,” while someone else simply raved, “Real talent 🔥.”
Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” filming in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Others, however, remain unconvinced that Chalamet can capture Dylan’s mysterious character. One critic expressed doubts after seeing the trailer, “I really hope the movie is better than this preview…Not believable at all as Dylan.”
“Oh, the pretentiousness of this guy, the so called tortured artist 😂😂 Meanwhile he’s seriously dating a girl who I’m sure has never heard of Bob Dylan in her life [sic],” a skeptic remarked referring to his reported girlfriend, reality TV star Kylie Jenner.
Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet watch the 2023 US Open final in New York City on September 10, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
More critics questioned the choice of Chalamet to embody the enigmatic music legend. One pointed to the stark contrast between Chalamet’s polished image and Dylan’s raw, magnetic persona, asking bluntly, “Who’s this awful film for?”
Timothée Chalamet is seen on the set in New York on March 24, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
One person dismissed Chalamet as “Overrated and no talent,” while another criticized him as being “grossly miscast” even after years of acting in the industry.
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A netizen’s comment on Timothée Chalamet’s role as Bob Dylan, posted on November 18, 2024 | Source: Instagram.com/entertainmenttonight
On the flip side, many fans continue to rally enthusiastically behind Chalamet, praising his charm and talent. Some described him as a “gorgeous young man” and “so talented,” while others confidently predicted an Oscar nomination for his role.
“He can do it and do it well,” one fan wrote, while another gushed, “He stole my heart and I can’t get it back 🖤🖤🖤.”
Timothée Chalamet films “A Complete Unknown” in Paterson, New Jersey, on April 9, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
With a director known for capturing transformative figures and an actor who has poured years into perfecting his performance, “A Complete Unknown” is shaping up to be a thoughtful and ambitious portrayal of Dylan’s life.
The film is set to release on December 25, and fans will see whether Chalamet’s meticulous preparation pays off in bringing the music legend to life on screen.
