Marty Supreme star reveals Timothée Chalamet underwent paddle “punishment” scene for 40 takes after refusing stunt double

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People are already impressed with Timothée Chalamet‘s work in Marty Supreme, and now we’re learning just how committed he was to making the movie realistic and believable.

Kevin O’Leary, who stars alongside Timothée Chalamet in the film, told Variety that a crucial scene – where his character, Milton Rockwell, playfully spanks Chalamet’s character, Marty, with a ping pong paddle – required 40 takes. Chalamet insisted on performing the scene himself and didn’t want a body double used.

O’Leary explained that when it was time to film a scene requiring a hit, Timothée Chalamet refused to use a stunt double. He insisted on performing the stunt himself, not wanting someone else to be associated with the moment.

O’Leary shared that the prop paddle he was meant to use – a softer, fake version – broke right away. This meant he had to finish the scene using a real paddle instead.

The actor explained they filmed the scene until 4 a.m., doing multiple takes for hours until director Josh Safdie (known for ‘Uncut Gems’) was satisfied with the result.

O’Leary explained: “Josh was saying, ‘You’ve got to wind up harder.’ I was really whacking him.”

The highly acclaimed film, Marty Supreme, featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Abel Ferrara, and Tyler Okonma, is predicted to receive multiple award nominations in 2026.

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I’m so excited about this movie! It’s inspired by the incredible story of ping-pong champion Marty Reisman. The film follows a young guy named Marty Mauser who’s chasing a big dream, even though nobody believes in him, and it’s a real rollercoaster ride to see if he makes it.

The film has been a hit with critics and is also performing strongly at the box office, achieving the second-largest opening weekend of any film released by A24, following only Alex Garland’s Civil War.

Marty Supreme is in UK cinemas now.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, an international television production company. He holds a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2025-12-31 17:04