Timothée Chalamet Swaps Sci-Fi for Underdog Ambition in Marty Supreme
Timothée Chalamet opens up about his bold new role in Marty Supreme, how it stacks up against Dune: Part Three, and what drives his career choices. Discover his unique perspective on ambition and transformation.
From his early days as a teenage rapper known as ‘Lil Timmy Tim’ to his current status as a household name, Timothée Chalamet has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Now, he’s set to take on the part of a fiercely determined ping-pong prodigy in the much-anticipated A24 film, Marty Supreme. Ahead of the film’s global debut, Chalamet sat down for a chat about chasing big dreams and what keeps him pushing forward.
Reflecting on his younger years, Chalamet says,
“I feel like I was a huge dreamer in my mid-teens to late teens – maybe to a degree that I didn’t really feel the people around me doing.”
He grins, adding,
“It’s like, ‘Alright, do you want to take the foot off the accelerator pedal a little bit? Do you want to go in neutral or whatever the metaphor is? And I’m hitting the f*cking gas pedal, for better or worse.”
Relaxed and chatty by the rooftop pool at the Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills, he’s clearly at ease discussing his journey.
Chasing Ambition and Facing Doubt
Chalamet admits that his twenties brought a shift in perspective.
“I feel like in my mid-20s, I had a good growing experience as far as thinking there’s some candy at the top of the mountain or some indicator of achievement,”
he says, reflecting on his acting ambitions. With a string of acclaimed films under his belt, including Call Me By Your Name, A Complete Unknown, and the Dune series, many might wonder why he’d sign up for a quirky sports drama. The answer is straightforward:
“The appeal of this was to work with Josh Safdie,”
he explains.
He sees Marty Supreme as more than just a table tennis flick.
“Okay, this is through the lens of a table tennis movie, but really, it’s about someone who’s got enormous dreams, but he’s living life as the underdog whose only resources, whose only support system – whose only foundation – is himself. Certainly, a lot of people in their late teens and early 20s can relate to that. I certainly can.”
Vulnerability and Self-Belief
Chalamet doesn’t shy away from discussing the tougher side of ambition.
“In my early 20s, when I was pursuing an acting career, you go, ‘Man, I know the person believing the most in me right now is me.’ That is a weird hall to hear your thoughts echo in. It’s a lonely [place]. If you have a fast-paced mind like myself, it leaves a lot of room for self-doubt at times.”
It’s a sentiment that will ring true for plenty of young Aussies chasing their own dreams.
Once filming wrapped on Marty Supreme, Chalamet jumped straight back into blockbuster territory with the third Dune instalment. He was glad the two roles were worlds apart.
“Had the roles been similar, it might have been more complicated. I’d have thought, ‘Oh, man… How do I not let these roles bleed into each other?’”
Switching Gears Between Roles
Even as a bright orange Marty Supreme blimp floats above the LA skyline, Chalamet stays focused on the differences between his characters.
“They are such different roles and the tones of the film couldn’t be more different. A high-wire, Safdie brother, New York, 1950s period piece about a borderline delusional, ambitious character in contrast to a Denis Villeneuve sci-fi epic space opera.”
While punters will have to wait until December 2026 for the next Dune chapter, Marty Supreme is just around the corner. With plenty of awards buzz already swirling for his turn as Marty Mauser, it’s clear Chalamet’s story is far from over. Bring it on.
Marty Supreme lands in US cinemas on 25 December, and in the UK on 26 December. Dune: Part Three is set for release in December 2026.