Timothée Chalamet Dedicated Six Years to Ping Pong for Upcoming Role
Timothée Chalamet is going all in for his new film Marty Supreme, an epic sports comedy-drama directed by Josh Safdie.
The movie, co-written by Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, is loosely based on the life of American table tennis player Marty Reisman. Chalamet stars as the lead, Marty Mauser, a young man chasing a dream that everyone doubts. The film also features Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher in supporting roles.
Marty Supreme premiered at the New York Film Festival on October 6 and is set for a wide release in the United States on December 25 through A24.
The story follows Marty as he faces countless challenges on his way to greatness, showing the highs and lows of pursuing a passion that few people take seriously.
Dream big. MARTY SUPREME, a Josh Safdie film starring Timothée Chalamet. In theaters this Christmas.@realchalamet@gwynethpaltrow@odessaazion@kevinolearytv@tylerthecreator@frandrescher pic.twitter.com/ILLDNMH5eN
— A24 (@A24) August 13, 2025
To prepare for the role, Chalamet trained in ping pong for more than six years. He began working with Safdie in 2018 and kept up with his practice even while shooting other major films.
“Everything I was working on, it was this secret: I had a table in London while I was making Wonka. On Dune 2, I had a table in Budapest, Jordan. I had a table in Abu Dhabi… I got myself an Airbnb near Saint-Tropez after The French Dispatch, overlooking the water, and I was taking lessons there,” Chalamet told reporters.
His dedication to the sport shows just how committed he is to bringing authenticity to his character. Chalamet’s long-term preparation has helped him fully embody Marty’s determination and passion, adding a layer of realism to the movie.
With Safdie directing and Chalamet deeply involved both in front of and behind the camera, Marty Supreme is shaping up to be a compelling story about ambition, resilience, and the quirky world of competitive table tennis.
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