Timothée Chalamet to Star in and Produce Ping Pong Pic

Chalamet is in final talks to lead Josh Safdie’s new movie, which would tell the true-life tale of ping pong pro Marty Reisman, who helped popularize the sport.

Timothee Chalamet at a fan event for 'Wonka.'

Preview:

Timothée Chalamet is in final talks to star in ‘Marty Supreme’.
It would follow the career of ping pong pro Marty Reisman.
Josh Safdie co-wrote the movie and will direct.

In the last couple of years, we’ve gotten used to seeing Timothée Chalamet as fantastical characters –– ‘Dune’s troubled Paul Atreides or the cheerier chocolatier who lends his name to ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ prequel ‘Wonka’.

Yet for a potential new film, as reported by Variety, he’ll be tackling a real-life sports hero, albeit in a sport that is rarely brought to screens.

Chalamet is now in final negotiations to star in and co-produce a new movie about ping pong pro Marty Reisman, called ‘Marty Supreme’.

Fact or Fiction The Life Times of a Ping Pong Hustler

Not Yet Rated1 hr 3 minAug 1st, 2014

Watch Fact or Fiction The Life Times of a Ping Pong Hustler Online

Who was Marty Reisman?

Marty Reisman in the documentary 'Fact or Fiction: The Life & Times of a Ping Pong Hustler'.

Reisman was a table tennis champion who started his career as a hustler in Manhattan, playing for bets and prize money.

He won 22 major ping pong titles from 1946 to 2002 and won five bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships.

At 67, he competed in the United States National Hardbat Championship and became the oldest player to win an open national competition in a racket sport. He was known as the “wizard of table tennis” and even opened for the Harlem Globetrotters with his ping pong comedy routine.

In 1974, Reisman published an autobiography titled ‘The Money Player: The Confessions of America’s Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler.’ He also inspired a 2014 television documentary titled ‘Fact or Fiction: The Life and Times of a Ping Pong Hustler.’ Reisman died in 2012.

Who is working on the new movie?

Adam Sandler in 'Uncut Gems'. Photo: A24.

‘Uncut Gems’ filmmaker Josh Safdie co-wrote the movie with Ronald Bronstein, and the pair will also produce.

Safdie is best known for working with his brother Benny Safdie on films including ‘Good Time’ and ‘Gems’, though the brothers have parted ways to work on their own movies (Benny is in production on MMA biopic ‘The Smashing Machine’ with Dwayne Johnson in the lead.

The Safdies still work together to produce other projects, including a Paul Reubens documentary.

A24 is backing ‘Marty Supreme’, and made it official via social media:

Josh Safdie's MARTY SUPREME starring @RealChalamet. Coming soon pic.twitter.com/9ko3uu0IsC
— A24 (@A24) July 15, 2024

What else is Timothée Chalamet involved in?

Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in director James Mangold's 'A Complete Unknown.' Photo: James Mangold's Twitter Account.

The actor has most recently worked on James Mangold’s ‘A Complete Unknown’, about the younger days of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan (Chalamet plays Dylan).

Beyond that, ‘Marty Supreme’ would appear to be the only project that has been announced, though given how in demand the young performer is, there’s every chance that several other potential movies are in development.

Chalamet is also likely to reunite with Villeneuve for the planned third ‘Dune’ outing, ‘Dune Messiah’, though that is still at a very early stage and the director may well make another movie or two before he returns to the world of the sci-fi story.