All About the Bob Dylan Biopic Starring Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet is taking on the role of Bob Dylan for a new biopic. 

Tentatively titled A Complete Unknown, the upcoming film will follow the famed singer-songwriter’s early life and career as he rose to prominence in the 1960s. 

Plans for the film were first announced in January 2020 and recently, filming kicked off in N.Y.C. as Chalamet was spotted in character on set. 

After showing off his pipes in Wonka, Chalamet will also be singing in character as Dylan for the new film, with his vocal coach previously telling PEOPLE that fans will be amazed by his talent. 

"When that movie finally comes out, people are going to be shocked because you're going to think you're hearing Bob Dylan sing," Eric Vetro told PEOPLE. "Once again, he just has this uncanny ability to not impersonate, but really breathe life into it. He's embodying Bob Dylan and what he was like at that age."

Here’s everything to know about the upcoming movie. 

What is A Complete Unknown about?

The film, originally titled Going Electric, will reportedly center around Dylan's controversial transition to the electric guitar in the '60s and his road to becoming a folk music legend, per Deadline. 

Set in New York City, the movie is said to follow Chalamet as a 19-year-old Dylan as he rises to fame in the folk music scene and eventually gets a record deal with Columbia Records.

Who is in the cast of A Complete Unknown?

In addition to Chalamet as Dylan, the film will feature other notable actors playing famous figures. Edward Norton is playing folk singer Pete Seeger (replacing Benedict Cumberbatch, who stepped away due to scheduling conflicts) while Elle Fanning is set to star as Dylan's love interest, Sylvie Russo.

Other cast members include Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Nick Offerman as Alan Lomax and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, per Rolling Stone. 

Who is directing A Complete Unknown?

The biopic is being helmed by James Mangold, who recently directed Ford v Ferrari, which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture. 

Will A Complete Unknown be a musical? 

Yes, the upcoming biopic will be a musical, and Chalamet will sing some of Dylan's biggest hits. The actor’s vocal coach Eric Vetro, who also worked with him on Wonka, previously told PEOPLE that fans will be amazed by Chalamet’s vocal talent. 

"It's kind of astonishing because going from the Wonka character to Bob Dylan, it's a completely different character, completely different voice, everything — and he does it," details the vocal coach. "He could turn on a dime. He's so talented that he is able to just switch into one role or the other really quickly."

"It's like what Renée Zellweger did with Judy Garland," added Vetro, who worked with Zellweger on 2019's Judy and received a shoutout during her speech after she won the 2020 Oscar for Best Actress for the role.

When did A Complete Unknown start filming?

Filming for the project was slated to start in August 2023, but was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. In March 2024, filming officially kicked off as Chalamet was photographed in character on set. 

Is there a first look at A Complete Unknown?

Fans got the first look at the new film in March 2024, when Chalamet was seen filming in N.Y.C. In the photos obtained by PEOPLE, the actor was seen wearing a paperboy hat while holding a worn guitar case in his hand as he walked in the streets. 

When will A Complete Unknown be released?

At the moment, A Complete Unknown doesn’t have a release date.