Timothée Chalamet is taking it back to his Lil Timmy Tim days.
The Oscar-nominated actor has revealed his musical inspirations as he enters the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” which is slated to begin production this August. Elle Fanning co-stars. Chalamet has been attached to James Mangold’s period piece since 2020 and will perform Dylan’s songs on screen.
“I’ve been preparing forever,” Chalamet said Vogue to work with a vocal coach every day.
Yet Chalamet’s musical leanings go back more than a decade, with his viral rap performances of Lil Timmy Tim and a special production of “Cabaret” at his LaGuardia performing arts high school in New York City.
“I can’t expect anyone outside the New York City public school system to know, but there’s a production of ‘Cabaret’ at LaGuardia, class of 2013, that you can watch on YouTube,” Chalamet said, citing his performance as Emcee in musical. “I remember New York Times critic Ben Brantley saying very nice things about it, so I’m going to point that out.”
The ‘Wonka’ actor also infamously parodies Soundcloud rappers alongside Pete Davidson in a 2020 ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch. Chalamet will collaborate with Martin Scorsese for a Chanel men’s fragrance commercial and star in ‘Dune : Part Two”.
The alum “Call Me By Your Name” has been attached to the Dylan biopic since 2020. Originally titled “Going Electric,” the film was shelved amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I haven’t stopped preparing, which has been one of the greatest gifts for me,” Chalamet said in 2022. “It has been a wonderful experience to immerse myself in that world, whether we make it or not. But without giving anything away — because I don’t want to beat anyone to the punch, and of course things have to go along officially — the winds that are blowing are blowing in a very positive direction.”
Chalamet revealed in aGQcover story that he rented a house in Woodstock, New York to prepare to embody Dylan. The ‘Call Me By Your Name’ star also visited Dylan’s former homes in New York City and read the memoir ‘Chronicles: Volume One,’ as well as meeting with ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ director Joel Coen for more insights into the folk scene of the 60s.
“A Complete Unknown” director Mangold confirmed in April 2023 that production would begin in August and focus on Dylan’s early career.
“It is such an extraordinary moment in American culture and the story of a young 19-year-old Bob Dylan who arrives in New York with two dollars in his pocket and becomes a worldwide sensation within three years — before being welcomed into the folk music family in New York and then, of course, he surpassed them at one point as his star soared beyond belief,” Mangold said. “It’s such an interesting true story and about such an interesting time in the American scene.”
