The Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” will be released at Christmas

James Mangold's Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” has its release date. The biopic, directed by Timothée Chalamet, will be in theaters on Christmas Day.

Searchlight Pictures, the distributor of A Complete Unknown, has announced the release date. The film will be released nationwide on December 25, 2024.

This makes 2024 the second year in a row that Chalamet will be released in theaters for Christmas. Last year, 2023, Paul King's Wonka hit theaters on December 15, 2023. The family-friendly film was a huge success, grossing over $630 million at the box office.

We'll see if A Complete Unknown has the same success. Some biopics are more successful than others. 20th Century Fox's Bohemian Rhapsody grossed over $900 million during its run. Lead actor Rami Malek, who played Freddie Mercury in the biopic, won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance.

What is the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” about?

James Mangold co-wrote (with Jay Cocks) and directed A Complete Unknown, based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric. The biopic will chronicle Dylan's transition to amplified music.

Timothée Chalamet plays Bob Dylan and will also produce the film. He will star alongside Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and Boyd Holbrook.

This is not Mangold's first music biopic. He previously directed Walk the Line, a Johnny Cash biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix. In A Complete Unknown, Holbrook will play Cash.

Although Chalamet has Oscar ambitions for his role in the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown will not be shown at any festival. Unlike most other award winners, the biopic will not premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) or any other festivals.

Perhaps that's because filming just wrapped and there isn't enough time to finish the movie for a fall premiere. A Complete Unknown was set to shoot from March to June 2024. It was pushed back to 2023 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Post-production is now underway before Searchlight Pictures releases the film later this year.

Who is Bob Dylan?

Bob Dylan is a music legend who is still making music at the age of 83. His latest album, Shadow Kingdom, was released in 2023. To date, he has released over 30 studio albums.

He began his career by debuting with his eponymous 1962 album. Dylan rose to prominence with his second album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, which included songs such as “Blowin' in the Wind,” “Don't Think Twice It's All Right,” and “A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall.”

In 1965, Dylan released perhaps his most famous album: Highway 61 Revisited. This album featured one of his biggest songs, “Like a Rolling Stone,” and other hits like the title track. Apple Music even ranked it 14th on its 100 greatest albums.

Dylan has been on the Never Ending Tour since June 7, 1988. The tour is still running today. Dylan is currently touring with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp.

Shadow Kingdom, Dylan's latest album, is his first of original material since 2020's Rough and Rowdy Ways. The album had one single, “Watching the River Flow”, released on April 13, 2023.

A Complete Unknown will be released on December 25, 2024.