The actor returned to 'SNL' last year to play some Dylan deep cuts with a live band featuring James Blake. (NME report).
The actor pulled double duty on the huge US variety show early last year, when he both hosted and performed as the musical guest.
He played three Dylan tracks – ‘Outlaw Blues’, ‘Three Angels’ and ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time’ – to promote 2025 biopic A Complete Unknown, in which he stars as the legendary singer-songwriter.
Chalamet was backed by a full live band on his episode of SNL, with James Blake playing keys.
During a recent Q&A in London, the actor recalled SNL creator/producer Lorne Michaels approaching him to return as host for a third time. Chalamet agreed, on the condition that he could be the musical guest as well.
“I said, ‘Yeah, can I do the music?’,” he said (via Consequence). “He’s like, ‘No’. I said, ‘Alright, I’m not doing it’. He said, ‘OK, do the music’.”
Chalamet added: “I spent over six figures out of my pocket to do the SNL performance.”
He did not elaborate on how the live outing ended up setting him back at least $100,000 (£73,213). The hefty sum was perhaps due to music rights, as the three deep cuts Chalamet played were not featured in A Complete Unknown. It could include fees for the live musicians on stage, too, as well as expenses such as travel, accommodation and rehearsal time.
