The new movie Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie, brings the vibrant world of 1950s New York table tennis to life with an ensemble cast that mixes Hollywood stars, celebrity cameos, and real-life sports figures. Led by Timothée Chalamet, the film’s roster is a key part of its unique energy and style. Set against a backdrop of hustle and ambition, each character plays a part in the story of a young man’s relentless pursuit to become a ping-pong champion.
Meet the Main Cast and Their Roles
Timothée Chalamet plays the lead role of Marty Mauser, an ambitious and often unscrupulous table tennis hustler from New York City. His character is loosely based on the real-life player Marty Reisman, a champion and showman known in the 1950s for his skill and style. To prepare, Chalamet reportedly practiced table tennis for years, embodying the role of a player whose dream of greatness is met with skepticism from almost everyone around him.
The film surrounds Chalamet’s character with a complex web of relationships:
- Gwyneth Paltrow plays Kay Stone, a glamorous, retired movie star from the 1930s. She forms a romantic and sexually charged relationship with Marty, becoming a symbol of a world he desperately wants to enter.
- Odessa A’zion is Rachel Mizler, a married pet-store employee and Marty’s childhood friend. She becomes his accomplice in various schemes, providing a grounded contrast to his high-flying ambitions.
- Fran Drescher portrays Rebecca Mauser, Marty’s pragmatic and long-suffering mother. A native New Yorker, Drescher brings an authentic flavor to the role of a parent who wants her son to settle for a stable job instead of chasing his unpredictable dreams.
- Tyler, the Creator (credited as Tyler Okonma) takes on the role of Wally, Marty’s loyal taxi driver friend. This marks the hip-hop artist’s first major film role, and he serves as Marty’s often-reluctant partner in crime.
A Gallery of Intriguing Cameos and Supporting Players
One of the most talked-about aspects of Marty Supreme is its deep bench of surprising cameos, many from people not primarily known as actors.
Kevin O’Leary, best known as “Mr. Wonderful” from Shark Tank, makes his film debut as Milton Rockwell. He plays the wealthy, manipulative husband of Kay Stone, who first champions and then sabotages Marty’s career. Director Josh Safdie has said he cast O’Leary specifically because he “exudes corporate colonialism,” making him an ideal antagonist.
The film also features notable figures from the worlds of sports, literature, and performance:
- Koto Kawaguchi, a real-life National Deaf Table Tennis champion, plays Marty’s formidable on-screen opponent, Koto Endo.
- George “The Iceman” Gervin, an NBA Hall of Famer, plays Lawrence, the owner of the table tennis club where Marty spends much of his time.
- Pico Iyer, the renowned travel writer and essayist, appears as Ram Sethi, the head of the International Table Tennis Association.
- Philippe Petit, the legendary French high-wire artist, has a brief scene as an MC at a ping-pong match in Brussels.
Director Josh Safdie packed the cast with “a bevy of intriguing cameos from colorful character actors and non-professionals alike,” creating a textured world that blends fiction with reality.
The New York indie film community is well-represented. Director Abel Ferrara (Bad Lieutenant) appears as a violent criminal named Ezra Mishkin. Playwright David Mamet, who was himself a table tennis hustler in college, plays a stage director named Glen Nordmann. Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi takes on a fictional role as Kay Stone’s publicist, Merle.
Other memorable appearances include former NBA players Tracy McGrady and Kemba Walker as Harlem Globetrotters, magician Penn Jillette as a grizzled farmer, and author Naomi Fry as Kay Stone’s assistant. Even Mariann Tepedino, a famous caller to The Howard Stern Show known as “Mariann from Brooklyn,” appears briefly as a customer in Marty’s shoe store.
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The Real Story Behind the Film
Marty Supreme draws inspiration from the life of Marty Reisman, a real American table tennis champion nicknamed “The Needle”. Like the film’s protagonist, Reisman was a charismatic showman and hustler from New York’s Lower East Side who dressed impeccably and brought a theatrical flair to the game. He was known for his “bullet” hits and gimmick shots, such as breaking a cigarette in two with a slam.
The film incorporates elements from Reisman’s career, including conflicts with official associations and his rivalry with players who used new sponge-coated paddles, a technological change that impacted the traditional game he loved. Reisman’s own memoir, The Money Player, was found by Josh Safdie’s wife in a thrift store and served as a catalyst for the project. Safdie connected with Reisman’s story of pursuing a dream that few people took seriously, a theme that runs throughout the film.
Release Details and Where to Watch
Marty Supreme premiered at the New York Film Festival on October 6, 2025, before its wide theatrical release in the United States on December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day). The film is distributed by A24 and has a runtime of approximately 150 minutes. As of late December 2025, it is playing in theaters.
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