Searchlight Pictures has announced that Timothée Chalamet’s highly anticipated Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, will be released in theaters on December 25. Directed by James Mangold, the film explores Dylan’s early years, focusing on his rise to fame in the 1960s music scene.
Chalamet, recognized for his performances in Dune and Wonka, takes on the role of Dylan, including performing the music himself to highlight his vocal skills. The cast also features Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Dan Fogler as Albert Grossman, PJ Byrne as Harold Leventhal, Norbert Leo Butz as Alan Lomax, Will Harrison as Bob Neuwirth, and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie.
The film captures the essence of early 1960s New York, portraying a 19-year-old Dylan arriving in the West Village with just his guitar and revolutionary talent. His journey from obscurity to fame involves significant personal relationships and culminates in a pivotal decision that reshapes the American music landscape.
James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks, expressed his fascination with this transformative period in American culture. “The story of a young Bob Dylan arriving in New York with only $2 and becoming a global sensation within three years is extraordinary. His initial acceptance by the folk community and subsequent rise that transcends them is a defining moment in music history,” Mangold told The Hollywood Reporter.
A trailer for A Complete Unknown has already been released, showcasing Chalamet performing Dylan’s iconic song “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” and providing glimpses into Dylan’s influential life and career. The film is produced by Fred Berger, Alex Heineman, Peter Jaysen, Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer, Jeff Rosen, Timothée Chalamet, and James Mangold.