Bob Dylan tested a completely unknown script by performing as Bob Dylan

The post Bob Dylan Tested an Entire Unknown Script by Acting as Bob Dylan appeared first on Consequence.

Perhaps Bob Dylan knew that if you wanted to do something well, you had to do it yourself, and so played the role of (checks notes) Bob Dylan before approving the script for the musical biography based on his life. A complete unknown.

Although the role of the young songwriter ultimately went to Timothée Chalamet – who now receives numerous awards and our own Film Actor of the Year award – Dylan played an important role behind the scenes. As revealed on The city In the podcast of one of the film’s producers, Peter Jaysen, Dylan not only “approved of the script” but also made “significant contributions” to writer and director James Mangold.

“He met with Jim Mangold several times,” Jaysen explained. “At one point they sat and read the entire script out loud, with Jim Mangold reading every part and stage direction and Bob Dylan just reading the lines of dialogue to himself. During this process, (Dylan) sat and wrote notes on the script. At the end of the last session with Jim Mangold, he signed the script and said, ‘Go with God.'”

While noting that Dylan “didn’t have a final cut,” Jaysen emphasized the legend’s involvement. “I don’t think Bob Dylan is passive,” he said. “He’s just someone who’s more private.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Jaysen explained the thoughtful, meritocratic process through which he acquired Dylan’s music rights, and ahahahaha, sorry, I couldn’t keep a straight face. After an HBO deal fell through, an old friend who happened to work with Dylan built a single phone and offered the rights to Jaysen’s company and no one else. Hollywood, baby!

Jaysen also argued that he knew Chalamet would explode before the rest of the city, saying he tried to cast Timmy as Dylan in 2019 “before he had any significance as a star.” That’s sort of pre-dunebefore-Wonkathis is basically postCall me by your name. For us, Timmy was a unique talent.” However, his claims of “unique talent” and thorough research are undermined a little later when he is asked if he knew Chalamet could sing. He replied: “To be honest, we didn’t know.” That seems like the kind of question you might want to ask the potential star of a tentpole music biopic, but what do I know, Dylan’s management team has me never called with an exclusive movie offer.

The entire interview is worth listening to, if only to hear how personable interviewer Matthew Beloni continually helps Jaysen put his foot in his mouth. Listeners can also hear about a Prince biopic that was in limbo after the family balked at the finished product, as well as Jaysen’s efforts to produce jukebox musicals about “Mama” Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas and Syd Barrett by Pink Floyd. If you’d like, you can listen below.

Bob Dylan tested a completely unknown script by performing as Bob Dylan
Wren Graves

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