Timothée Chalamet Will ‘Never’ Release His Own Album Despite Spending Six Years Learning to Play the Guitar and Sing Like Bob Dylan for ‘A Complete Unknown’

As a seasoned cinephile with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must say that the upcoming film “A Complete Unknown” has certainly piqued my interest. The prospect of witnessing Timothée Chalamet‘s transformation into Bob Dylan is nothing short of intriguing, especially considering his remarkable performance as a singer and guitarist in this biopic.

Timothée Chalamet is receiving praise for his portrayal of guitar-playing and singing as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown,” but he emphasizes that he has no plans to produce an album under his own name. In a lighthearted conversation, he stated emphatically that it would never happen at the film’s premiere on Tuesday at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.

Timothée Chalamet acknowledged that his co-star, Edward Norton, encouraged him to perform songs live during filming. “He was like a mischievous voice in my ear, urging me to do these live performances,” he stated. “We had pre-recorded tracks, but Edward was almost like the balance against the hundred other voices telling me not to.

Monica Barbaro, portraying Joan Baez, reminisced about singing together for the first time with Chalamet during rehearsals. She mentioned that it was also their initial encounter. “Previously, I had sung along with his recordings in the studio,” she explained, “but actually harmonizing in real-time, listening to our guitars synchronously, was enchanting. It was undeniably the most enjoyable aspect of this experience for me.

Before the movie, neither Barbaro nor did she possess formal training in playing the guitar or singing, much like Timothée Chalamet who has no intention of launching an album after his acclaimed portrayal of Baez. As she stated, “I can play and I enjoy it, and I still do. For the moment, it’s a personal pastime… However, I have been writing my own songs, and I find it very rewarding. It’s a delightful bond I share with the instrument.

Under the guidance of director James Mangold, “A Complete Unknown” delves into Dylan’s life during his initial four years in the industry. Alongside Chalamet and Barbaro, the film boasts an ensemble cast that includes Elle Fanning (who surprisingly avoided most red carpet interviews at the premiere), Boyd Holbrook, Scoot McNairy, Dan Folger, Norbert Leo Butz, P.J. Byrne, Nick Pupo and others. The costumes are designed by Arianna Phillips, who was nominated for an Oscar.

Six years ago, in New York City at around 1 a.m., Timmy approached me at the Bowery Hotel and invited me to his room, saying he’d been practicing something new. I followed him, and as soon as he started playing, it felt like an electrifying moment of discovery – goosebumps all over!

As a seasoned film critic, reflecting on my experience with Mangold, I must acknowledge Timothée Chalamet’s remarkable evolution over a six-year period. At times, his progress left me astonished, making me exclaim, “Oh shit,” or “Oh my God.” It wasn’t until the third day of filming that he truly shone, unleashing a talent that astounded me. This wasn’t an overnight accomplishment; it was the culmination of six years of dedication and hard work for him to master this music. The first time I heard him sing, he was competent, but it was his performance in the movie that truly showcased his extraordinary abilities.

Holbrook portrays Johnny Cash in the movie, yet he shares that he initially tried out for different characters. The actor mentioned, “Johnny Cash wasn’t part of the original script.” It was later, after Mangold became acquainted with Bob and discovered their pen pal relationship, as well as Bob’s possession of all the letters, that this connection came to light. This information was unknown to him during the making of ‘Walk the Line’, since Johnny didn’t have the letters at that time.

In the midst of our conversation, I shared with James, “I’m not the spitting image of Johnny Cash,” to which he replied, “No one mirrors anyone else.” Given his fervent nature, I place my faith in his judgement.

Holbrook commented on Chalamet saying, “He’s truly an artistic talent, and it takes immense courage for him to perform all those songs live.

“A Complete Unknown,” from Searchlight Pictures, is in theaters Dec. 25.