Timothée Chalamet Trained ‘For Months and Months’ To Play The Titular Ping Pong Champ in ‘Marty Supreme,’ Cinematographer Darius Khondji Says in Doha

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Timothée Chalamet spent several months meticulously preparing for his lead role in Josh Safdie’s upcoming movie “Marty Supreme,” which revolves around professional ping pong player Marty Reisman. According to Darius Khondji, the film’s renowned cinematographer, this highly anticipated A24 production is slated for a Christmas 2025 release and is expected to be a major box office hit.

Khondji, currently serving as a mentor at the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra workshop, hasn’t had the chance to watch “Marty Supreme” yet, as it’s currently being edited in New York. However, he emphasized that all he’s been hearing about it is fantastic, and furthermore, he described the filming process as incredibly challenging and wild.

Timothée Chalamet spent five years getting ready to portray Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” and he also put in a lot of effort to embody Reisman, a character who began his career as a Manhattan hustler before earning 22 major ping pong titles from 1946 to 2002. According to Khondji, this intense preparation was crucial because, while you can use various camera techniques, having a solid foundation or “core” is essential.

Khondji mentioned that when Chalamet began his role, he aspired to emulate a genuine professional table tennis player. He further noted that in the movie, Chalamet is accompanied by some of today’s top ping pong champions, who are dressed as they would have been in the 1950s.

Khondji further mentioned that Timothée Chalamet will present a markedly distinct persona compared to the one we’ve previously encountered.

He commented, “I doubt they’ll identify him at all,” and further explained that viewers of “Marty Supreme” are unlikely to recognize the typical romantic character. Regarding the film’s plot, despite numerous scenes involving ping pong, he remarked, “The movie is actually about much more than just ping pong.

In an exciting turn of events, I’ve just found out that I, as a passionate movie enthusiast, will be part of the cast for “Marty Supreme.” My role? The spouse of a formidable professional rival who unexpectedly gets entangled in a romantic twist with Timothée Chalamet’s character. Let me tell you, things between us heat up quite a bit!

Moreover, Khondji emphasized that in this movie, Chalamet and Paltrow are joined by approximately 140 non-acting individuals. These people include filmmaker Abel Ferrara, illusionist Penn Jillette (one half of Penn & Teller), and renowned French high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who is famous for his daring walk between the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City, a feat that was depicted in the Academy Award-winning documentary “Man On Wire.

Khondji, an acclaimed cinematographer known for his two Oscar nominations (“Evita,” “Bardo”), has recently collaborated on Bong Joon-ho’s film “Mickey 17” and Ari Aster’s upcoming movie “Eddington.” This project features a star-studded cast including Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler. Khondji hinted at the upcoming release of Aster’s work, suggesting that “Eddington” might debut in Cannes soon. The film is rumored to center around a small-town sheriff in New Mexico with lofty aspirations.

Khondji mentioned that “Eddington” is expected to be quite distinct from Ari Aster’s recent movies, such as “Hereditary,” “Midsommar,” and “Beau Is Afraid.” He pointed out that the film carries a Western ambiance due to its setting and characters, yet he doesn’t classify it as a Western in the traditional sense.

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2025-04-06 19:16