Timothée Chalamet trained seven years for table tennis film Marty Supreme, cites Susan Boyle as a favorite Brit

Timothée Chalamet spent seven years preparing for Marty Supreme, a period he describes as a commitment to making the sport and the era feel authentic on screen. In discussing the project, he noted he was approached in 2018 and used his downtime to train as much as possible, a pace he compares to the lengthy prep for other demanding roles. “I got approached with this project in 2018. So that basically gave me six, seven years to prepare on and off. In all my downtime, I would train as much as possible,” he enthuses. He draws a parallel between the responsibility he feels for this story and the work he has done for other biographical roles, such as a Bob Dylan-inspired guitar film, explaining that the goal is to make the on-screen portrayal believable to fans and enthusiasts alike. “I think the responsibility in this movie, like in the Bob Dylan movie, if you were a Dylan fan or a guitar player, [is to make sure] that that looks real to you on screen. Similarly here, if you're a ping-pong aficionado, that that looks believable to you.”

Chalamet’s preparation included taking a table tennis table into the desert during filming for Dune and engaging in “oo mpah-loompah” ping-pong between takes on Wonka. He recalls a moment from the promotions surrounding The French Dispatch, describing how, by 2021, he had a training video shot in a cliffside Airbnb during the Cannes Film Festival and continued to train with friends as the sun set. “Certainly, by the time the French Dispatch was coming out [in 2021], I have a video - at risk of being unrelatable, I was in a beautiful Airbnb on a cliffside for the Cannes Film Festival. And I had a table with me. So I have a video of training with friends. It's like a gorgeous sunset.” This image of dedication underscored his belief that an actor’s passion for the craft can illuminate a character on screen and help audiences connect with a story that blends fact and fiction.

Chalamet plays a semi-fictional version of post-war table tennis star Marty Reisman, recast in Marty Mauser with a morally gray arc that includes involvement in a heist and attempts to undermine a sponsor’s marriage. He notes that the film’s tone leans into the reality that people in their early twenties are often “idiots,” a theme the movie explores through a protagonist whose singular passion can make social missteps seem forgivable. “You know, when you're in your early twenties, you're an idiot,” he laughs. “And this movie, in large part, is about being an idiot in your early twenties. And if on top of that, you have a passion that you're singular about, you risk looking foolish in addition to being an idiot.”

At 29, nearing his 30th birthday on 27 December, Chalamet is already in the orbit of major awards chatter. Marty Supreme has earned him nominations for best actor at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards, with the Oscar race widely described as a potential head-to-head between him and Leonardo DiCaprio. He reflected on the personal milestone of turning 30, describing a recent moment of feeling “like I'm living in a dream” from a high vantage point in London while discussing a project he cares deeply about. His SAG Award acceptance speech earlier this year echoed a similar drive: he spoke of wanting to be “one of the greats” and listed a roster of actors, athletes, and pioneers as benchmarks.

“I feel like I'm living in a dream. I'm on top of a fancy hotel in London and talking about a film I'm deeply passionate about,” he said, underscoring how much he values both the craft and the platform to share it with audiences. The actor also acknowledged the volatility of confidence, describing it as an ebb-and-flow phenomenon rooted in a New York mentality—when things go well, you feel on top of the world; when they don’t, the world seems to be falling apart.

Chalamet’s view of cinemas in the streaming era remains guarded but hopeful. He acknowledged the concern that streaming companies may deprioritize theatrical runs, calling it a dangerous trend, yet he argued that cinemas will endure and even thrive if artists bring authentic, original work to theaters. “That is an intense question,” he muses. “I do think with streaming stuff, there's less incentive for these streaming companies to try to put things in theatres, which is dangerous. But equally, I do think cinemas will survive and thrive.”

Marty Supreme is described as an original film for a moment when many projects are headed to streaming platforms. Chalamet emphasized that the film isn’t aimed at streaming release and that his responsibility as a young actor is to translate traditional forms to contemporary audiences. “This is an original film at a time where a lot of original films aren't made. And there's no part of me that's a salesman that's saying this, but I've never been more confident in saying, 'Hey, if you bring yourself to see this movie, you won't be let down'. It's really like a slingshot.”

The actor has also embraced a unique promotional approach for Marty Supreme. He has handed out jackets bearing the film’s title to a slate of figures he deems “true greats.” Honorees include singer Frank Ocean, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, and Barcelona wunderkind Lamine Yamal. In conversations about British icons, Chalamet offered a candid mix of names and playful quips. When asked which Brits would be worthy, he listed Lewis Hamilton and David and Victoria Beckham, then teased with a cryptic remark about “Fakemink”—before pivoting to a surprising choice. He finally named Susan Boyle, describing her as someone who “dreamt bigger than all of us.” “Susan Boyle,” he said, explaining that the viral 2009 performance of I Dreamed A Dream marked the “advent of YouTube” and remains unforgettable to him. “That was like the advent of YouTube, you know,” he added with a smile.

The promotional push has become a hallmark of the campaign surrounding Marty Supreme. In addition to appearances at premieres in coordinated outfits with his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, Chalamet has leaned into unconventional marketing, including a fake leaked marketing Zoom call in which he pitched increasingly outlandish ideas. Gwyneth Paltrow also stars in Marty Supreme, marking her first film role in seven years, further underscoring the cross-generational appeal of the project. As the film heads toward a Boxing Day release, Chalamet’s blend of seriousness about craft and playfulness in promotion underscores a broader strategy: engage cinema fans with a vibrant, original story while acknowledging the evolving distribution landscape.

The film is set for a wide theatrical release and is not tied to a streaming service, a stance Chalamet frames as a commitment to cinema as a public experience. “This is an original film at a time where a lot of original films aren't made,” he reiterated, signaling his belief that audiences will respond to a film that centers on a real sport, real history, and a character who embodies the energy and risks of youth. As Chalamet approaches his 30s, Marty Supreme serves as a lens into a performer who has built a career on ambition, discipline, and a willingness to take bold creative bets. The film’s Boxing Day debut promises to be a milestone in a year already defined by his presence on the awards circuit and on screens worldwide.