Ever since “Bohemian Rhapsody” earned more than $900 million worldwide, we’ve seen a massive influx of studio projects relating to musical icons. And while some of them are headscratchers, like the Boy George biopic, Fox Searchlight has a film coming that is nothing short of a must-see, and they haven’t even begun filming yet. But hey, that’s what you get when you have one of the most acclaimed filmmakers working today teaming with the hottest young actor for a film about one of the most legendary musicians — Bob Dylan.
According to THR, Fox Searchlight has teamed up with director James Mangold for a biopic that tackles the younger years of Bob Dylan. And who did they get to lead the film? Well, none other than Timothée Chalamet. Yep, get ready for Bob Dylan to become a heartthrob. The untitled film is based on the book, “Dylan Goes Electric” by Elijah Wald and will follow the days of the musician as he transitions from folk music to a more rock sound.
Mangold is coming off back-to-back Oscar-contending films with his superhero film “Logan” and last year’s “Ford v. Ferrari.” While his films have been hit-or-miss previously, it’s clear that the filmmaker is riding a wave of popularity and is firing on all cylinders.
READ MORE: James Mangold Talks ‘Ford v Ferrari’ & Still Wanting To Direct An ‘X-23’ Film [Interview]
Chalamet, on the other hand, has yet to really have a miss, especially with his most recent works over the last few years. There is just an assumption that every film that the actor stars in is somehow going to land him an acting award and the adoration of millions of young fans on social media that obsess over everything he wears and what his hair looks like in each feature.
Obviously, this isn’t the first Bob Dylan biopic to hit theaters. It’s not even the first biopic to be filmed by an acclaimed director and featuring an all-star cast. Back in 2007, director Todd Haynes teamed with six separate actors to bring Bob Dylan to life in the film “I’m Not There.” In addition to Cate Blanchett, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film, Christian Bale, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw all played the iconic musician in the film. So, with that sort of competition, Chalamet and Mangold have an uphill battle for what can be the best Dylan film.
Basically, the combination of Mangold, Chalamet, and the music of Bob Dylan seems like a match made in heaven and is clearly going to be an awards contender in 2021, or whenever it hits theaters.