Timothee Chalamet may have inspired fans to embrace Hollywood's disturbing 'Noodle Boys' aesthetic

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Timothee Chalamet is known for his acting chops and jaw-dropping red-carpet looks.

But it seems that Hollywood's golden boy has also become the poster child for a worrying new trend among young male fans desperate to replicate his ultra-slim "Noodle Boys" aesthetic.

Timothee Chalamet and the 'Noodle Boys' lineup

Insiders told Radar Online that obsessed fans have taken it to the extreme, sharing the fruits of their alarming weight-loss journeys on pro-eating disorder social media pages. They are posting concerning images of their emaciated frames online and it seems some of the photos are too disturbing for mainstream outlets to even publish, the report noted.

So, what’s fueling this trend? Apparently, Chalamet is just one of a rising crop of stars who have earned the nickname "Noodle Boys" for their impossibly thin physiques.

"Welcome to Hollywood 2024," a source dished. "The muscle men of yesteryear like Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are a distant memory. Now the beanpole look is in, and for some fans, that means the skinnier the better. They’re sharing their photos on pro-Anorexia and pro-Bulimia sites, and the images are awful," the source added.

"Some of these guys look close to death, but they think they look great and say they are inspired by a new breed of stars like Timothée," the insider continued.

Chalamet isn’t the only one unwittingly influencing this phenomenon. He is joined by the likes of Dominic Sessa, 22, the breakout star of last year’s 'The Holdovers' and Finn Wolfhard, 21, the Canadian heartthrob of 'Stranger Things' fame who is now helming the rebooted 'Ghostbusters' franchise and Russian actor Mark Eydelshteyn, 22, who starred in 'Anora.'

Together, these wiry, deep-set-eyed stars are redefining Hollywood’s take on masculinity.

Jeffrey McCune, a social commentator and professor at the University of Rochester, weighed in on the cultural shift. "There is a true desire to have something other than this aggressive, belligerent, overtly predatory kind of white masculinity," he explained. "This trend might be saying that there’s a white visual desire for something less hard," McCune added.

Meanwhile, Drew Ayers, associate professor of film at Eastern Washington University, noted a potential silver lining to the phenomenon. "It’s a quieter kind of brooding masculinity. It’s less in-your-face and assertive. I think, positively, it offers a different version of masculinity where the power doesn’t have to emerge from your body," he said.

Timothee Chalamet's security scare

Earlier this month, the 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Wonka' star found himself beefing up security at his home after a literal treasure trove of unreleased Bob Dylan tracks landed in his lap, thanks to the folk legend himself.

Timothee Chalamet— who is set to portray Dylan in the highly anticipated biopic 'A Complete Unknown' — was handed 12 hours of unreleased music to help him prepare for the role.

The gesture, while heartwarming, also left the star terrified about the tapes’ safety. "I mean, I feel so deeply respectful of his world. I don't want to be flippant about it. It's not like it is braggadocious," he said, confessing that the responsibility left him sleepless.

A Hollywood insider spilled the tea on the precautions taken. "Tim was rightly worried about the security of the tapes. There are plenty of crazy fans of Dylan who would literally kill to get their hands on the new music. A team of security experts gave his place the once-over because he was stricken with fear that he could become a target for an obsessed nut. They made a few changes and left him feeling a lot happier," the insider shared.

Bob Dylan’s seal of approval for Timothee Chalamet

Having said that, Bob Dylan himself couldn’t help but sing Timothee Chalamet's praises. Calling the actor "brilliant", the legendary musician, 83, seems more than satisfied with the star’s portrayal of his younger self.

The singer took to X to signal support on December 6. "There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothée Chalamet is starring in the lead role. Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he's going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me," he wrote in a post.

As for the biopic, fans won’t have to wait too long to see Chalamet in action. 'A Complete Unknown' is set to hit theaters on Christmas.