New music courtesy of legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is incoming, the icon has been in the studio recording a track for the upcoming Ronald Reagan biopic.
Dylan has recorded a cover of a 1930s standard for the film, titled Reagan. The movie has been in the works for a long time and the project surrounding was announced back in 2020. Now, it’s set for release in late August in the US, it stars Dennis Quaid as the ex-president, alongside Penelope Ann Miller, Robert Davi, Lesley-Anne Down and more.
Following the announcement of the soundtrack, Dylan’s name is also now attached to the movie as he’s set to contribution a take on Cole Porter’s 1934 track, ‘Don’t Fence Me In’. Additionally, the film also features several big-name musicians recording classic standards, including Gene Simmons covering ‘Stormy Weather’.
Talking to Spin, the film’s star Dennis Quaid spoke about Dylan’s involvement in the project. “I was honoured to have Bob join our film,” he said, adding, “We gave him the freedom to do any song he wanted to do, whether an original or a cover, and he chose ‘Don’t Fence Me In.’”
He continued, “Bob is a great lover of the American Songbook.” Referencing the artist’s book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, Dylan wrote 60 essays on the work of other artists, spanning decades and genres as proof of his knowledge and love for music beyond his own.
Quaid also remarked, “We were delighted with the way he delivered the song. He’s a national treasure and was the perfect addition to the film.”
A Complete Unknown comes out on this December in the United States, starring Timothée Chalamet as the folk legend and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez.
The film focuses on the artist’s earliest years and then moves into the controversy surrounding the folk star picking up an electric guitar for the first time. In preparation for the role, Chalamet worked extensively with a vocal coach and guitar teacher to not only be able to pull off the musician’s mannerisms but to be able to sing like him for the film, too.
Dylan’s biopic is set for a January release in the UK following the Christmas Day release in America. For now, this new cover Dylan’s cover of the 1930s standard will be a welcome addition to his lengthy discography, serving as the first new music since 2023’s Shadow Kingdom.