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Mickey Rourke seemingly criticizing the display Bob Dylan just days before Timothée Chalamet takes on a rock legend.
“Bob Dylan was one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met,” Rourke (72) wrote Instagram on Monday, December 23 with a photo of the music icon. “But whoever it was the actor who played Bob Dylan in ‘Portrain Bob Dylan,’ that actor was really shit. Mickey, Dima and the kids wuffwuffwuff.”
While Chalamet was not named, Rourke’s candid post comes days before the young actor’s new film, A complete unknowncomes out on Christmas Day.
The 28-year-old Chalamet portrays the now 83-year-old Dylan in the film from the beginning of his career in 1960s New York to his famous electric guitar performance of “Like a Rolling Stone” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
Music biopics seem to be everywhere, from Jeremy Allen White’s upcoming Bruce Springsteen film to Timothée Chalamet showing off his vocals as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Still, these flicks are not a new phenomenon. Films focusing on the lives of music icons have been attracting audiences for decades, from Coal Miner’s Daughter in the 1980s to (…)
One person who seemed more than excited about the casting and the film was Dylan himself.
“A movie about me is opening soon. A complete unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet stars,” Dylan wrote through X December 4th. “Timmy is a great actor, so I’m sure he’ll be as believable as I am. Or younger me. Or some other me.”
Dylan explained that the film is taken from Elijah Wald‘with Dylan Goes Electric — a book that was published in 2015.
“It’s a fantastic retelling of the events of the early 1960s that led to the Newport fiasco,” he added. “After you see the movie, read the book.”
Chalamet later expressed his gratitude for Dylan’s post, he replies, “Floor. I am so grateful. Thanks Bob.”
As part of the role, Chalamet asked for help and vocal coach before he sang and played guitar live on set. While speaking with Apple Music in November, the actor called the role “the most unique challenge I’ve taken on”.
While it’s unclear what Dylan thinks of Rourke’s latest Instagram post, he previously expressed his admiration for his work on the big screen.
In his memory called Chronicles, Volume OneDylan recalled seeing Rourke’s performance in Homeboy and shared how it had such an impact on his album Gracious.
“He could break your heart with a look,” Dylan he wrote. “The film traveled to the moon every time it hit the screen. No one could hold a candle to him. He was just there, he didn’t have to say hello or say goodbye. Just seeing him play gave me the inspiration to cut the last two songs on this album.”
Our asked Rourke’s team for comment.
A complete unknown will hit theaters on Wednesday, December 25.
