Here’s a grounded rundown of the film, where the awards buzz stands after NYFF, and why everyone keeps mentioning Dune when talking about Chalamet’s shaved head.
'Marty Supreme' need to know
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What it is: A sports comedy drama set in the 1950s from writer director Josh Safdie, co written with Ronald Bronstein.
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Story angle: Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a brash ping pong hustler chasing redemption. The project is loosely inspired by table tennis icon Marty Reisman.
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Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, Fran Drescher.
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Release: December 25, 2025, from A24.
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NYFF: Surprise world premiere on October 6, 2025.
What is 'Marty Supreme' about?
Set in 1950s New York, Marty Supreme follows Marty Mauser, a cocky table tennis hustler who turns backroom wagers into a shot at the big time. As debts pile up and a high-stakes trip to Japan beckons, Marty has to swap cheap tricks for real discipline, rebuild trust with the few people still in his corner, and prove his talent isn’t just talk.
Why critics are talking Oscars
Early reactions out of NYFF call Chalamet “electric,” note the film’s high energy, and position him as a legitimate Best Actor contender. You should always take first wave hype with a grain of salt, but the tone across industry coverage and roundup pieces is consistently strong. If A24 holds the Christmas date and builds out screenings, you can expect Marty Supreme to be part of year end ballots.
What Chalamet did to play Marty
Chalamet says he trained for years in table tennis to sell the performance. He started working on the skills long before cameras rolled, and kept a paddle with him while shooting other projects. That prep supports the on court sequences and explains why reviews single out his physicality.
The haircut everyone is debating
Chalamet revealed a buzzcut during Marty Supreme promo. Fans quickly tied the look to Dune: Part Three and upcoming production. Fashion and culture outlets also made the link when he popped up at NYFF in a cap that partially hid the shave. Here’s what is firm and what is not:
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Confirmed: He shaved his head and showed it in a stylized promo video and live appearances tied to Marty Supreme.
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Credible context: Coverage around NYFF noted the cut and framed it as connected to Dune’s next chapter, which is moving forward for a 2026 release. Trade and studio reporting place Dune: Part Three in active production through the back half of 2025, which lines up with the timing.
Villeneuve has said the third film continues directly from the end of Part Two and carries into the “Holy War,” adapting Dune Messiah. The creative team has been open about returning quickly to finish Paul’s arc. A more austere look for Paul would be a logical aesthetic choice for this chapter, considering the book's time skip.
To stay updated on both movies, follow Marty Supreme and Dune: Part 3 on Looking Forward To.
