Perhaps knowing that if you want a thing done well, you have to do it yourself, Bob Dylan performed the part of [checks notes] Bob Dylan before approving the script for the musical biopic based on his life, A Complete Unknown.
Although the role of the young songwriter eventually went to Timothée Chalamet — who is now getting plenty of awards buzz, plus our own Film Performer of the Year accolade — Dylan played a major role behind the scenes. As revealed on The Town podcast by one of the film’s producers, Peter Jaysen, Dylan not only “had approval over the script,” he also “had meaningful input” with writer and director James Mangold.
“He met with Jim Mangold multiple times,” Jaysen explained. “At one point they sat there and they read the entire script out loud, with Jim Mangold reading every part and stage direction, and Bob Dylan only reading lines of dialogue for himself. Through that process, [Dylan] sat there writing notes on the script. At the end of the last session with Jim Mangold, he signed the script and said, ‘Go with God.’”
While noting that Dylan “did not have final cut,” Jaysen emphasized the legend’s involvement. “I don’t think Bob Dylan is passive,” he said. “He’s just somebody who’s more private.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Jaysen explained the thoughtful, meritocratic process by which he acquired Dylan’s musical rights andahahahaha, sorry, couldn’t keep a straight face. After an HBO deal fell through, an old friend who happened to work with Dylan made a single phone and offered the rights to Jaysen’s company and nobody else. Hollywood, baby!
Jaysen also argued that he knew Chalamet was blowing up before the rest of the town, saying he sought to cast Timmy as Dylan in 2019, “before he was meaningful as a star. Like, that’s pre-Dune, pre-Wonka, that’s basically post-Call Me by Your Name. To us, Timmy was a singular talent.” However, his claims about “singular talent” and in-depth research are slightly undercut moments later when he’s asked if he knew Chalamet could sing. He responded, “To be candid with you, we did not know.” That seems like the kind of question you might want to ask the potential star of a tentpole music biopic, but hey, what do I know, Dylan’s management team has never called me with an exclusive movie offer.
The whole interview is worth a listen, if only to hear the congenial ways that interviewer Matthew Beloni keeps helping Jaysen put his foot in his mouth. Listeners can also learn about a Prince biopic stuck in limbo after the family balked at the finished product, as well as Jaysen’s efforts to make jukebox musicals about ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas, as well as Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd. If you’d like, you can listen below.