James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown: An Update
James Mangold’s latest project A Complete Unknown, is a musical biopic on Bob Dylan’s life, with Timothée Chalamet starring as Dylan.
From depicting life in a 1960s psychiatric hospital to recounting the fierce rivalry between two motor companies, to then embarking on a journey with everyone’s favorite adventurer, Indiana Jones, James Mangold has done it all. But, he’s most definitely not backing down now with A Complete Unknown.
Plot-wise the situation remains a little obscure. The film will follow a nearly penniless nineteen-year-old Dylan’s arrival in New York City with hopes of breaking into the folk music scene and meeting musical idol Woody Guthrie.
In addition to Mangold, Dylan himself is serving as one of the film’s executive producers. Mangold told Rolling Stone that “The reason Bob has been so supportive of us making it, is … as in all cases I think of the best true-life movies are never cradle to grave but they’re about a very specific moment,” meaning that, the film isn’t going to depict Dylan’s narrative vaguely. It would be near impossible to jam-pack the story of an artist as culturally revolutionary as Dylan in a single film.
So, Mangold decided on an ensemble piece. The film will introduce figures that ultimately made Dylan who he is — from Sylvie Russo, a.k.a Suze Rotolo, (Elle Fanning) to Woody Guthrie (Scott Mcnary) to Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) to Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). The film will showcase young Dylan’s journey from being “a complete unknown” to a worldwide sensation.
Timothée Chalamet & Elle Fanning on the set of #ACompleteUnknown !! pic.twitter.com/Ob3Ctc9Wzw
—(@Kaasi_dQ) June 15, 2024
In December 2023 Chalamet told MTV that he had already pre-recorded 70 percent of the film’s soundtrack. So, yes, Chalamet isn’t solely taking the lead on the acting, but the music as well. Chalamet also told MTV, “This might earn the ire and wrath of a lot of Bob fans, rightfully, but I got… sent a 12 hour playlist of unreleased Bob from 1959 to 1964… Some of it I’d love to sneak into the movie.”
Chalamet was first announced to undertake the role of Dylan in 2020, but due to COVID-19 and the SAG-AFTRA strike filming was halted. Chalamet and the A Complete Unknown team began rolling this past March. They have been spotted filming around New York City and parts of northern New Jersey. Fans have been expressing both their doubts and sheer excitement concerning the project.
that timothee bob dylan movie has the potential to a really good film or the worst thing ill ever watch
— adam hann fan (@ARCHAICNC0NTENT) April 18, 2024
Timothée on “A Complete Unknown” movie set Being swarmed with his fans as he play’s Bob Dylan! #TimothéeChalamet #tchalamet #bobdylan pic.twitter.com/5Sjei55651
— TIMOTHÉE FAN (@timothee_6153) April 15, 2024
There is still no news on a release date or even a trailer, but filming has been wrapped up. Hopefully, more information regarding the two will be released, now that the film is cycling its way into the post-production phase.
In the meantime, one can focus on Dylan himself. Dylan’s most recent tour Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour came to an end earlier this year. However, this summer, the singer is set to join Willie Nelson and several other artists at this year’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour. For more information regarding tickets, click here
