In late 2024, Bob Dylan took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce an upcoming biographical film titled 'A Complete Unknown', featuring Timothée Chalamet in the lead role. Dylan expressed his confidence in Chalamet's acting abilities, stating that he would be convincingly portrayed as either a younger version of himself or an alternate version. The film is inspired by Elijah Wald's 2015 book 'Dylan Goes Electric', which chronicles the significant events of the early 1960s culminating in Dylan's electrifying performance at the Newport Folk Festival that shocked his audience.

The title 'A Complete Unknown' was reportedly coined by Dylan himself, drawn from his iconic song 'Like a Rolling Stone', released in 1965, a year marked by his transformation to an electric musician. This biopic aims to capture the essence of a pivotal moment in music history, showcasing how Dylan's shift to electric sound not only influenced his career but also elicited strong reactions from both fans and fellow musicians of the time.

Dylan's suggestion to watch the film and then read the book underscores his ongoing relevance and the significance of the historical context in which he operated. By promoting the book, which provides a detailed account of his journey, Dylan seems to encourage both longtime fans and newcomers to engage deeply with his art and the narrative of a transformative period in music history.