Timothée Chalamet Reveals Singing “War” During ‘A Complete Unknown’ & Saoirse Ronan Says She’d Like To Make A Musical: BFI In Conversation

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Ladybird (2017) and Little Women (2019) co-stars Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan reunited at the BFI Southbank in London on December 18 for a conversation about their careers, collaborations with each other and new films.

When discussing his portrayal of Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s upcoming musical biopic A Complete Unknown, Oscar nominee Chalamet revealed that he was nervous to play Song To Woody for the first time and that there was a “whole war on the movie” about whether he should use prerecords or sing the music live. “I was in the camp that wanted to do it live because it’s folk music and Bob Dylan was certainly matching his voice.

So, I didn’t want to be matching me, mimicking Bob Dylan in a studio in L.A. 6 months before we shot,” said Chalamet. “When that song went well [Song to Woody], I felt like I had a green light to work with the music team on the movie to always do it live.” The Dune: Part Two alum shared the advice that his co-star Edward Norton gave him to reinforce his decision: “Edward Norton was always in my ear saying ‘You sound better live, do it live,’ which was good ammo.” A Complete Unknown is based on Elijah Wald’s book Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan and the Night That Split the Sixties.

The story follows iconic troubadour Bob Dylan as he creates a new sound in folk music and goes against convention in the context of other great singers.