A new trailer for A Complete Unknown, James Mangold’s biographical film about Bob Dylan, has been released, showcasing more of Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of the legendary folk singer. The film centers on a pivotal period in Dylan’s career, as he transitions from folk to rock music.
In the latest footage, Chalamet sings Dylan’s classic “Girl From the North Country” as his character arrives in New York from Minnesota. The trailer gives audiences a glimpse of his budding relationship with fellow folk singer Joan Baez, portrayed by Monica Barbaro.
One scene captures Dylan, guitar in hand and shirtless, telling Baez, “Your songs are like an oil painting at the dentist’s office.” Baez’s sharp response, “You’re kind of an asshole, Bob,” adds tension to their dynamic.
The film delves into the romance between Dylan and Baez, featuring a duet of theirs at the 1963 Monterey Folk Festival. However, the relationship becomes complicated as Elle Fanning enters the story as Sylvie Russo, a fictionalized version of Dylan’s then-girlfriend Suze Rotolo. Rotolo is well-known for appearing with Dylan on the cover of his album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.
The core of the movie, though, revolves around Dylan’s frustration with being boxed into the folk music genre. His hit song “Blowin’ in the Wind” had turned him into the voice of a generation, but as the film shows, Dylan was determined to break free from that label.
In one of the film’s key moments, Dylan shocks fans by playing an electric guitar for the first time at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, performing his iconic song “Like a Rolling Stone.” The scene captures the divided reaction from the crowd—some fans embraced his new direction, while others were outraged, seeing it as a betrayal of the folk movement.
In addition to the drama surrounding Dylan’s transition to electric music, the trailer teases intense scenes of Dylan facing backlash from both fans and the media, adding another layer to the story.
Earlier, Searchlight Pictures released the first trailer in July, featuring Chalamet performing a haunting rendition of “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” The trailer set off discussions about how well Chalamet captures Dylan’s distinctive voice and style.
While some diehard Dylan fans remain skeptical, there’s been cautious optimism among experts. KG Miles, a Bob Dylan historian and author of several books on the singer, said Chalamet’s performance succeeds in conveying Dylan’s passion, even if it doesn’t perfectly match his voice.
“Does he nail the voice? God, you could be picky about it,” Miles commented, “But he does it seriously well. He gets across the passion and the soul in Bob Dylan’s voice without making it sound like karaoke.”
The movie is based on Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! and is co-written by Mangold and Jay Cocks. The supporting cast includes an impressive lineup, with Edward Norton playing folk icon Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie, and Will Harrison as Bob Neuwirth, among others.
Dylan’s manager, Albert Grossman, is played by Dan Fogler, while P. J. Byrne portrays Harold Leventhal, a folk music promoter who helped shape Dylan’s early career.
Chalamet’s involvement in the film goes beyond his starring role—he also serves as a producer alongside Fred Berger, Alex Heineman, Peter Jaysen, Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer, Jeff Rosen, and Mangold.
With anticipation building around A Complete Unknown, all eyes are on Chalamet’s portrayal of one of music’s most iconic figures. Whether or not the film lives up to the high expectations of Dylan fans remains to be seen, but the new footage has certainly sparked conversation. The movie is poised to offer a fresh look at Dylan’s controversial transformation, a pivotal moment in music history.
