First Trailer for "A Complete Unknown": Timothée Chalamet Brings Bob Dylan to Life

The highly anticipated film "A Complete Unknown" has just released its first trailer. This biopic tells the story of legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, with rising star Timothée Chalamet in the lead role. Oscar-nominated director James Mangold is at the helm of this exciting project.

The Story Takes Us Back to 1960s New York

The film focuses on Bob Dylan's life as a 19-year-old musician from Minnesota who arrives in New York City. We follow his journey from unknown folk singer to international superstar. The story shows Dylan's rapid rise from small coffee shops to sold-out concert halls, as his songs capture the world's attention. The film culminates with Dylan's groundbreaking rock and roll performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

"A Complete Unknown" Draws Inspiration from Dylan Literature

The movie is based on Elijah Wald's 2015 book "Dylan Goes Electric". Initially, the film was titled "Going Electric", but the creators settled on "A Complete Unknown" - a line from Dylan's famous song "Like a Rolling Stone".

Star-Studded Cast Brings 1960s Music Scene to Life

In the trailer, we see Timothée Chalamet walking the streets of Manhattan as Dylan, passing by iconic locations like Cafe Wha? and Hotel Chelsea. Chalamet can be heard singing Dylan's 1963 protest song "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall".

The film also explores Dylan's romantic life, hinting at a love triangle between Dylan, Joan Baez (played by Monica Barbaro), and Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning). The character of Sylvie Russo is thought to be a fictional version of Dylan's real-life girlfriend at the time, Suze Rotolo.

The impressive cast includes:

Edward Norton as Pete Seeger

Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash

P. J. Byrne as Harold Leventhal

Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie

Dan Fogler as Albert Grossman

Will Harrison as Bob Neuwirth

Interestingly, Benedict Cumberbatch was originally set to play Pete Seeger, but scheduling conflicts led to Edward Norton taking on the role.

Director's Vision of Young Dylan

James Mangold describes the film's portrayal of Dylan as "a traveler arriving fresh from Minnesota with a fresh take on life." Dylan's arrival in New York causes a stir in the folk music community, challenging their ideas of what's "proper" and "forbidden" in folk music.

The real Bob Dylan, now 83 years old, has contributed to the script and met with Mangold several times during the film's development.

"A Complete Unknown" is set to hit American theaters this December, promising a captivating look at one of music's most influential figures.