Timothée Chalamet is heading to the sports world in Josh Safdie’s ping-ping film Marty Supreme, which just started filming at the end of September. The Dune star will be playing the lead role of Marty Reisman, based on the late table tennis champion of the same name. In true Safdie fashion, Chalamet will be unrecognizable as the titular athlete, mirroring the transformation made by Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems.
As principal photography commences on A24’s Marty Supreme, images from the production have been posted online. The set photos (via Variety) reveal Chalamet as Marty Reisman, a nerdy but dapper gentleman who sports a small mustache and eyeglasses suitable for the 1950s. It’s a distinct look most fans of the actor won’t be familiar with (a worthy competitor to his infamous bowl haircut in The King), marking new territory for the former Oscar-nominee. Adam Sandler went through a similar level of transformation for Uncut Gems, another sports-related drama also co-directed by Josh Safdie. Check out the set images from the production of Marty Supreme.
Marty Supreme Boasts an All-Star Cast & Crew
A24’s Marty Supreme is an unconventional sports movie from one half of the minds behind Uncut Gems, serving as Josh Safdie’s directorial debut without his brother, Benny Safdie. Based on a real person, the script by Safdie and Ronald Bronstein (Good Time) follows a fictional version of American table tennis star Marty Reisman, who started his career as a hustler before becoming a world champion. It’s quite clear why Safdie and Bronstein have pursued this story for the big screen, a natural continuation from their last collaboration, Uncut Gems. The film was first teased by A24 back in July with a teaser poster. Check it out below:
In addition to Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme features Gwyneth Paltrow and rapper-singer Tyler, the Creator, whose involvement was announced just before filming began. Although it will be his first feature film role, Tyler, the Creator is no stranger to doing comedy along with producing Grammy-winning music. He’s done sketch comedy in the live-action show Loiter Squad for Adult Swim, and his voice can be heard in Big Mouth as Jesus. Meanwhile, the upcoming sports film marks Paltrow’s return to the big screen after taking a few years off since Avengers: Endgame. Although she had previously said Robert Downey Jr. was the person that could bring her back to acting, it seems Safdie’s script was a must-do for the actress.
Marty Supreme
does not have a release date yet.