MOVIE NEWS – It looks like Timothée Chalamet is a “completely believable” Bob Dylan, at least according to Bob Dylan…

James Mangold’s latest musical biopic, A Complete Unknown, is coming to theatres soon, and fans can expect plenty of controversy surrounding the lead character’s portrayal. Timothée Chalamet, who made waves earlier this year as Paul Atreides in Dune: Part Two, has taken on the role of legendary folk singer Bob Dylan. Set in the 1960s, during the artist’s early rise, A Complete Unknown features a young and restless Bob Dylan trying to reinvent himself. The role would be a delicate balancing act for any actor, as he would not only be trying to impersonate the singer, but also deliver a convincing and entertaining performance.

However, if you’re unsure about Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan, one influential person can vouch for him. The iconic singer himself turned to X to give Chalamet his approval for a version of himself. In his tweet, Bob Dylan put the film’s inspiration into context while praising Chalamet’s acting skills:

“There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). 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 film’s taken from Elijah Wald’s Dylan 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.”

Timothée Chalamet “floored” by Bob Dylan’s endorsement

Dylan’s belief that Chalamet is “completely believable” in the role is probably the biggest compliment an actor can receive about his work. Although the tweet suggests the legendary musician hasn’t seen the film yet, it was still a surreal moment for Chalamet, who responded with his own post on X, writing that he was “floored” by Bob Dylan’s comments and “grateful.” Dylan’s first post on X marks the first time the singer has spoken openly about James Mangold’s film, making it an even more significant moment for the film.

Initial reactions to A Complete Unknown have been mostly positive.

The film has already been showered with awards for its leading roles by Chalamet and Monica Barbaro. The American Film Institute recently named it one of the top ten films of the year, generating even more buzz for the project. Perhaps the most interesting part of the upcoming film is how Chalamet deals with the musicality expected of him in the role.

Like Joaquin Phoenix – who played the title character in Mangold’s Johnny Cash biopic – Chalamet sang himself, which further validates Bob Dylan’s comments about the actor. Searchlight Pictures has promised to release two songs from the soundtrack in early December, so fans of the film and Dylan can decide for themselves whether he’s a good fit for the role…

Source: X (1, 2)