An evolving list of Timothée Chalamet’s best looks from the set of ‘Marty Supreme’
Here, we break down everything you need to know about the upcoming A24 film from the plot details to the cast, and all the new looks Timothée is pulling on set
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TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET has been pulling some big mid-century fits on the set of his new film Marty Supreme. The ping pong drama (yes, you read that correctly) is set in 1950s New York City, and will see Chalamet play table tennis star Marty Reisman. It’s a perfect casting, with his slight build resembling that of Reisman’s, who was also known in ping pong circles as ‘the Needle’.
Already, Chalamet’s wardrobe alone has garnered the film much hype, while details on the cast are slowly rolling out. With a line-up that includes a rapper making his feature film debut, and a very famous actress returning to the screen, it’s an unlikely assemblage of talent, the kind that was seen previously in director Josh Safdie’s last work, Uncut Gems. A relatively mysterious project still in early production, we brought together all you need to know about the film, as well as the likely question on the top of your mind . . .
Related: Timothée Chalamet’s 10 best films, ranked
Who was Marty Supreme?
The film is loosely based on the late American table tennis legend Martin ‘Marty’ Reisman.
Known as ‘the Needle’ for his slight build, Reisman was a fixture in the Lower East Side and downtown Manhattan scene for his quick wit, and penchant for losing his fortunes (he was a three-time millionaire) from bets as fast as he could make them. The son of a cabdriver, Reisman was born and raised in Manhattan, where he fell into the world of table tennis at nine years old, quickly earning the title of junior champion at 13.
Ever the hustler, Reisman started to place bets from as young as 11, then setting his eyes on bigger prizes in international competitions where he won multiple bronzes. But it was in 1958 and 1960 that Reisman became the U.S. men’s singles champion. Later on, he created an orbit in New York City, corralling celebrities to partake in prizefighting (yes, you read that correctly too).
Throughout his life, Reisman won 22 major table tennis championships, including two US Opens and a British Open. He died in 2012 at the age of 82.
Who is in the cast of Marty Supreme?
- Timothée Chalamet will play Martin ‘Marty’ Reisman. Chalamet’s casting seems fitting for the titular role, whose slight, lean build bodes well for Reisman’s nickname, ‘the Needle’.
- Gwenyth Paltrow will be returning to acting after announcing she would take a step back from the industry in 2019 to focus on her wellness brand, Goop. Paltrow’s last film credit was in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Not much is known about her role as of yet.
- Tyler, The Creator will be making his film debut. The role marks an exciting new bullet point to the Grammy-winning rapper’s resume. And as we all count Tyler as bringing back loafers and other traditional menswear pieces into the zeitgeist, the period isn’t too far away from his personal style either.
- Fran Drescher, who is also the SAG-AFTRA president, will be playing Chalamet’s mother in the film.
- Sandra Bernhard, an iconic actress in New York film, will have a cameo role playing Drescher’s neighbour and friend.
Other cast members include Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Penn Jillete and Abel Ferrera, whose roles in the film are not yet known.
What is Marty Supreme about?
The film will take place in the 1950s New York City. However, other plot details are still kept under wraps.
Marty Reisman was already a prominent figure in the global table tennis community, with multiple world championship titles already under his belt since the late 1940s. By the 1950s, Reisman earned his biggest laurels as the 1958 and 1960 U.S. Men’s Singles Champion, so the film is set at the height of his career.
While based on Reisman’s career, it is described as “loosely inspired by the pro ping pong player”. Meaning Marty Supreme is a fictionalised original film and not a biopic.
Tonally, expect this to be a high jinx flick similar to that of Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, or Steve Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can. Reisman was a hustler who led a jet-set life, so the movie is expected to be an absolute trip.
Who is directing Marty Supreme?
Indie American filmmaker Josh Safdie is directing the film.
Uncut Gems (2019) was Safdie’s last major project, which he directed with brother Benny Safdie. A native New Yorker, the filmmaker’s body of work consistently focuses on subcultures that make up the social fabric of the city.
Along with Safdie, Ronald Bronstein co-wrote the script. The two are frequent collaborators, Bronstein having also co-written Uncut Gems.
What is the budget of Marty Supreme?
According to Deadline, A24 is dishing out $70-90 million USD for the film, making it the studio’s most expensive production yet.
The size of the budget now makes it on par with the Dwayne Johnson starrer The Smashing Machine, which is currently in post-production. The two projects mark A24’s ambitions for producing larger projects, which we saw the first inklings of with Alex Garland’s Civil War. But don’t take this as a sign that the studio is moving away from its penchant for indie stories, it just means their next slate of movies have the potential to become more celebrated.
All the new looks from the set of Marty Supreme
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