We Finally Get To Hear Timothée Chalamet Sing As Bob Dylan In The Teaser Trailer For "A Complete Unknown"

BuzzFeed
·4-min read

So, earlier this year, everyone — especially me — was super excited when Timothée Chalamet was finally spotted on the set of the new biopic based on the life of folk legend Bob Dylan.

Timothée Chalamet holds a guitar case while standing next to a cameraman on a movie set
James Devaney / GC Images

If you watched his episodes of Saturday Night Live, you might've discovered that Timothée also has musical talents.

Timothée Chalamet plays piano, surrounded by holiday decor, during a performance on a stage. Musicians are visible in the background
Nbc / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

If not, everyone at least recognized that Timothée could translate his musical talents on the silver screen with his turn as the famous fictional chocolatier in Wonka.

Timothée Chalamet, wearing a top hat and ornate Victorian-style clothing, poses with a hand on his hat in front of a classic building
Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Now, Timothée will portray one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters in history, and we have first look — and listen!

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez sitting together on grass in front of a building, with Dylan holding sunglasses

In case you didn't know, Bob has a Nobel Prize in Literature, 10 Grammys, a Pulitzer Prize, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Mirrorpix / Mirrorpix via Getty Images

A Complete Unknown is a biographical drama directed by James Mangold based on Elijah Wald's book Dylan Goes Electric!

A person wearing dark sunglasses and a black outfit seated inside a car, looking out the window with a contemplative expression
Gotham / GC Images

Mangold has directed other biographical films, including Walk the Line (2005) and Ford v Ferrari (2019).

Reese Witherspoon in a patterned dress and Joaquin Phoenix in a dark outfit perform on stage, with Phoenix playing a guitar
Reese Witherspoon in a patterned dress and Joaquin Phoenix in a dark outfit perform on stage, with Phoenix playing a guitar
Christian Bale in a blue jumpsuit and Matt Damon in a polo shirt stand beside each other, partially leaning on a convertible car
Christian Bale in a blue jumpsuit and Matt Damon in a polo shirt stand beside each other, partially leaning on a convertible car

20thcentfox / ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection, Merrick Morton / 20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection

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Mangold's also known for his work on major franchises, such as Logan (2017) and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), so the film is in great hands aesthetically.

Boyd Holbrook and Hugh Jackman dressed in rugged clothing stand next to a car, engaged in a conversation on a film set with police cars in the background
Boyd Holbrook and Hugh Jackman dressed in rugged clothing stand next to a car, engaged in a conversation on a film set with police cars in the background
Harrison Ford, dressed as Indiana Jones, is sitting on a boat with a serious expression, wearing an iconic fedora and leather jacket, near open water
Harrison Ford, dressed as Indiana Jones, is sitting on a boat with a serious expression, wearing an iconic fedora and leather jacket, near open water

20thcentfox / ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection, / ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

In A Complete Unknown, Timothée stars as Bob Dylan.

A young man in a dark cap and striped shirt stands holding a harmonica. There is a person and flowers in the dimly lit background
Searchlight Pictures

Monica Barbaro is the iconic folk singer Joan Baez.

Unidentified woman speaks into a vintage microphone in front of a curtain. People stand blurred in the background
Searchlight Pictures

Edward Norton is legendary folk singer Pete Seeger.

A man in a plaid jacket is sitting outside next to a pile of firewood, playing an acoustic guitar and smiling at the camera
Searchlight Pictures

And Elle Fanning is Sylvie Russo, a character based on Bob's girlfriend at the time, artist Suze Rotolo.

Elizabeth Olsen in a scene from a movie, sits in an audience, turning to look at the camera. A banner in the background reads "Employment" and "Success Program."
Searchlight Pictures

The cover of Bob Dylan's second studio album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, features Dylan and Suze in Greenwich Village, New York City.

Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo walking arm-in-arm down a city street, featured on the album cover of
Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo walking arm-in-arm down a city street, featured on the album cover of
Timothée Chalamet in a brown jacket and jeans, and Elle Fanning in a green coat and jeans, standing next to a bicycle with a guitar case in the background
Timothée Chalamet in a brown jacket and jeans, and Elle Fanning in a green coat and jeans, standing next to a bicycle with a guitar case in the background

Blank Archives / Getty Images, Jose Perez / GC Images

The film also stars P.J. Byrne as Harold Leventhal, Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie, and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash.

Paul Scheer, Scott Caan, and Boyd Holbrook are shown in separate panels. Paul wears glasses and a jacket, Scott has a beanie and touches his chin, Boyd wears a collared shirt
Mike Marsland / WireImage, Mike Marsland / WireImage, VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

The "Like a Rolling Stone" singer's career spans decades and, infamously, genres. This film focuses on Bob's life from his arrival in New York in 1961 to the 1965 Newport Folk Festival and his groundbreaking and controversial electric performance.

Bob Dylan on stage holding an electric guitar, wearing a leather jacket, with a microphone stand in front of him. Another unidentified person is partially visible
Donaldson Collection / Getty Images

Timothée is actually singing in the movie, and it sounds pretty darn accurate.

Bob Dylan playing an acoustic guitar and harmonica on stage, wearing a suit jacket
Bob Dylan playing an acoustic guitar and harmonica on stage, wearing a suit jacket
Timothée Chalamet in vintage style clothing with a guitar case and backpack, walking on a city street. People and cars are in the background
Timothée Chalamet in vintage style clothing with a guitar case and backpack, walking on a city street. People and cars are in the background

Val Wilmer / Redferns, James Devaney / GC Images

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I'm not the only person stoked by this movie. Here are the best reactions to the A Complete Unknown teaser to get you excited:

Twitter: @ClubChalamet

"Judging by the facial expressions while singing I can tell Timothée put on the work, that along with the cinematography and a trailer that is not too flashy makes me think we're in for a treat!"

Comment by @mrdondos9830: Judging by facial expressions while singing, Timothée has put in the work. Cinematography and non-flashy trailer suggest a treat awaits

"The fact that they released it on July 24, the day Dylan went electric at Newport, is rly tight."

Tweet by @shoelacegeorge: "the fact that they released it on July 24, the day Dylan went electric at Newport, is rly tight."

"When 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall' started playing, I got goosebumps. Can't wait to watch this, I'll be crying for the most part for sure."

Tweet from @NikkiMilky3d: "When 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall' started playing I got goosebumps. Can't wait to watch this, I'll be crying for the most part for sure."

Twitter: @StaffPickFilms

Lifetime / Twitter: @timchals

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"YES. As a huge Dylan fan this seems to bang on. From the mannerisms playing live, the nervous energy, to the voice (which is so hard to pull off). I was afraid of this, but now I'm absolutely buzzing."

Comment from @markcopeland3011 praising a live performance, noting the accurate portrayal of Dylan's mannerisms, nervous energy, and voice

Twitter: @sympho_nix

NBC / Twitter: @siciiily

"The way he blinks while singing is so Bob, I'm thrilled."

A tweet from user @georgetart1352 saying, "The way he blinks while singing is so Bob, I'm thrilled."

"So happy to see Lil Timmy Tim getting back to his roots after his success with his singing skills in the Wonka movie."

@bjork4s: "So happy to see Lil Timmy Tim getting back to his roots after his success with his singing skills in the Wonka movie."

Searchlight / Twitter: @jul13an

You can watch the full trailer below:

A Complete Unknown is expected to be released in December 2024.

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