Timothée Chalamet’s new film, Marty Supreme, follows the journey of a professional ping-pong participant — however is it based mostly on a real story?
Chalamet stars as Marty Mauser, an inspiring Nineteen Fifties desk tennis participant. The movie additionally stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Fran Drescher, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Abel Ferrara, Tyler, the Creator and extra.
Whereas Marty Mauser will not be an actual particular person, the character is predicated on the real-life ping-pong star, Marty Reisman. Marty Supreme will not be a direct reflection of Reisman’s life, nevertheless it does function a unfastened interpretation. Director and author of the A24 manufacturing, Josh Safdie, opened up about how he was impressed by Reisman’s dream to place ping-pong on the sports activities map.
“My aim was to make it as massive as I probably might,” Safdie mentioned in an October 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I wished to honor Marty Mauser’s dream to make it the best sport on this planet. I like imagining an alternate path of historical past the place the game did turn into as massive as tennis — and I needed to act that manner as a result of I used to be making it from Marty’s perspective.”
Marty Supreme hits theaters on Christmas Day.
Hold scrolling for all the pieces to know in regards to the plot of Marty Supreme:
What Is ‘Marty Supreme’ About?
Timothee Chalamet A24
Marty Supreme tells the story of Marty Mauser, who goals of being knowledgeable desk tennis participant. When nobody believes his dream is feasible, Marty should show his critics mistaken by remodeling ping-pong into a good sport within the Nineteen Fifties.
Is Marty Supreme a Biopic?
Whereas Marty Supreme options loads of historic components, it isn’t biographical. The story is loosely based mostly on Resiman’s rise to fame as among the best desk tennis gamers in historical past, which is why Chalamet’s character and Resiman share the identical first title. Safdie beforehand said that Marty Supreme is an “homage” to Reisman, quite than a biopic.
Who Is Marty Reisman?
Marty Reisman Getty Pictures
Earlier than changing into one of many greatest names in desk tennis, Reisman began off taking part in the game for bets and hustling for cash. At age 15, Reisman wager $500 on himself at a nationwide match in Detroit with a person he believed to be a bookie. The person turned out to be the pinnacle of the USA Desk Tennis Affiliation.
Following the incident, Reisman turned over a brand new leaf and started taking part in legitimately, occurring to win his first bronze medal on the 1948 World Desk Tennis Championships. The next yr, he took residence three medals on the 1949 World Desk Tennis Championships.
In 1997, Reisman made historical past when he grew to become the oldest participant to win an open nationwide competitors in a racket sport by successful the 1997 United States Nationwide Hardbat Championship at age 67.
Reisman gained 22 desk tennis titles all through his profession. He retired from the game in 2002. The athlete went on to turn into the president of Desk Tennis Nation and held the place till his loss of life in December 2012 at age 82.
