Timothee Chalamet reveals he had 'five years of singing practice' to ...

Timothée Chalamet has revealed he had 'five years of singing practice' ahead of his role as Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic, A Complete Unknown. 

The actor, 28, who stars as the Knockin' On Heaven's Door hitmaker, 83, both sings and plays the songs live in the drama which is set for release in January. 

Appearing on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, he admitted to not knowing much about Bob before, but is now 'deeply passionate' about his cultural impact.    

The movie focuses on Dylan's early career, his transition from folk to rock, and his performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, with Timothée being praised for his portrayal. 

Timothée said: 'I had a lot of time to practice because we were meant to make the film five and half years ago, then there was Covid and then there was the actors’ strike, so I have years to prepare. 

'I was confident about singing and by the time we got to do the film I wanted to sing and play the songs live.' 

Timothée Chalamet has revealed he had 'five years of singing practice' ahead of his role as Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic, A Complete Unknown

The actor, 28, who stars as the Knockin' On Heaven's Door hitmaker, 83, both sings and plays the songs live in the drama which is set for release in January (Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo and Timothee pictured in the film)

He added: 'I didn’t know much about Dylan but now, having worked on it for so long, I really worship at the church of Bob. 

'I am deeply passionate about this man and his work. My friends are tired of hearing me talk about him ad nauseam. 

'This man has been so impactful on culture and this film and this role are the ones I am most proud of.' 

The Oscar nominee, who did not have any face time with the hitmaker prior to playing him, has been praised by critics for saving the film, despite its flaws.

Timothée continued: 'Bob is an elusive, mysterious figure and a man of few words so I never got the chance to meet him. 

'I would like to, but I am very respectful that it is true to his character that I would never get to meet him.' 

Elle Fanning will star as Sylvie Russo, a renamed version of Bob's girlfriend from the time while Monica Barbaro will play Joan Baez. 

The movie centres on the singer-songwriter's controversial switch to electric instruments at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

Appearing on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, he admitted to not knowing much about Bob before, but is now 'deeply passionate' about his cultural impact

The movie focuses on Dylan's early career, his transition from folk to rock, and his performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, with Timothée being praised for his portrayal (Bob pictured in 2023)

Timothée said: 'I was confident about singing and by the time we got to do the film I wanted to sing and play the songs live' (pictured at the London premiere last week)

Timothée - who will be joined in the cast by Edward Norton and Boyd Holbrook - was confirmed to be doing his own singing in the movie after lending his vocals to his 2023 musical flick Wonka.

Director James Mangold confirmed that he has been working with Bob on the project and that the Hurricane singer had some personal input into the screenplay.

During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the filmmaker said: 'I've spent several, wonderfully charming, days in his company, just one-on-one, talking to him.

'I have a script that's personally annotated by him and treasured by me. He loves movies. The first time I sat down with Bob, one of the first things he said to me was, "I love Cop Land."'

While the picture will cover his early years, the director emphasised that A Complete Unknown wasn’t strictly a biopic about the musician.

He explained: 'By the way, it's not really a Bob Dylan biopic.' 

He added: 'The reason Bob has been so supportive of us making it, is it's about, as in all cases I think the best true-life movies are never cradle to grave but they're about a very specific moment.

'In this case, it might sound Altman-esque, but it's a kind of ensemble piece about this moment in time, the early 60s in New York, and this 17-year-old kid with $16 in his pocket hitchhikes his way to New York to meet Woody Guthrie who is in the hospital and is dying of a nerve disease,' he finished.

Elle Fanning will star as Sylvie Russo, a renamed version of Bob's girlfriend from the time while Monica Barbaro (pictured left) will play Joan Baez

Timothée gave fans a first look at the highly anticipated film's poster via Instagram in late August just after the first trailer was released, giving fans taste of the New York native in action.

And he has been seen channeling the singer on set on various occasions.

An insider close to the actor shared that a lot is at stake for him: 'There's a lot of pressure to get it right. Bob Dylan fans are insane and will tear him [Timothée] apart if he gets it wrong.'

The title — A Complete Unknown — is recognisable from Dylan's rock anthem which changed his career, Like a Rolling Stone.

The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 20th December 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer.