Timothee Chalamet prepared for months to play ping pong star in 'Marty Supreme,' says cinematographer

ANI April 7, 2025 192 views

Timothee Chalamet is preparing for a transformative role as ping pong legend Marty Reisman in the upcoming film 'Marty Supreme'. The actor underwent months of intense training to authentically portray Reisman's unique playing style and personality. Cinematographer Darius Khondji praised Chalamet's dedication, describing the film's production as challenging and spectacular. The A24 project, directed by Josh Safdie, promises to be a compelling exploration of Reisman's extraordinary journey from street hustler to championship player.

"Everything I hear is spectacular. The shooting was so hard and crazy." - Darius Khondji, Cinematographer
Washington DC, April 6: Timothee Chalamet has gone through intense training for his role in the upcoming film 'Marty Supreme', where he plays real-life ping pong legend Marty Reisman, reported Variety.

Key Points

1

Chalamet trained intensively to portray authentic ping pong legend

2

Film features unique cast including Penn Jillette and Philippe Petit

3

A24 production directed by Josh Safdie captures Reisman's extraordinary life

4

Biopic explores street hustler turned championship ping pong player

According to the film's cinematographer, Darius Khondji, Chalamet trained "for months and months" to prepare for the part. Khondji revealed this while speaking to Variety on the sidelines of the Doha Film Institute's Qumra workshop. Khondji said he hasn't seen the final film yet, but, "Everything I hear is spectacular. The shooting was so hard and crazy."

Ping pong legend Reisman was known for his unique personality and skills, having started out as a street hustler in New York before winning over 20 major ping pong titles between 1946 and 2002. Chalamet worked hard to look and move like a real professional.

"...because you can do anything, any camera tricks you want, but you need to have a core. He wanted to be like a real [professional] ping pong player when he started shooting," Chalamet told Variety.

'Marty Supreme' will also feature many non-actors, including some of today's top ping pong players, magician Penn Jillette, director Abel Ferrara, and French high-wire artist Philippe Petit.

The film, directed by Josh Safdie and produced by A24, is expected to be released during Christmas this year.

The film is currently in editing and is expected to be a major box office release during the 2025 holiday season.

Reader Comments

J
Jamie L.
Timothee's dedication to his roles is next level! I remember how he learned to play piano for 'Call Me By Your Name' and now months of ping pong training? That's commitment 👏 Can't wait to see this!
R
Rahul K.
Interesting choice of subject matter. While I admire Chalamet's work ethic, I wonder if this biopic will resonate with general audiences. Ping pong isn't exactly mainstream sports entertainment.
S
Sophia T.
OMG I had no idea who Marty Reisman was until this article! Just looked him up - what an incredible life story. Timothee playing a street hustler turned champion? Sign me up! 🏓
M
Marcus P.
The Safdie brothers + A24 + Chalamet is a dream team. Their last collaboration was brilliant. This might be another awards contender if the execution matches the ambition.
E
Elena W.
As a table tennis coach, I'm curious to see how accurate the playing scenes will be. Most movies get paddle sports completely wrong. Hope they consulted real players!
T
Trevor J.
The cast list alone has me intrigued - Penn Jillette AND Philippe Petit? What a wild mix of talents. This could either be amazing or a complete mess. Either way, I'm watching.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Timothee Chalamet Marty Reisman Ping Pong Biopic A24 Films Josh Safdie Sports Drama
You May Like!