In a startling revelation from the set of the upcoming sports drama Marty Supreme, co-star Kevin O'Leary has detailed the intense moment he struck Timothée Chalamet's character with a wooden paddle for a pivotal scene. The 29-year-old actor, who plays aspiring table tennis player Marty Mauser, insisted on performing the stinging sequence himself, leading to a genuinely shocked reaction captured on film.
The Paddle Scene That Demanded Authenticity
O'Leary, who plays businessman Milton Rockwell, explained to Us Weekly that the script called for his character to administer a spanking with a paddle after Chalamet's Marty apologises for missing matches. Initially, a body double and a fake prop were arranged. However, Chalamet famously declared, "No, it's got to be my a**. I'm going to immortalize my a** on film in perpetuity," committing fully to the uncomfortable moment.
After the intended fake paddle broke, a real wooden one was substituted. O'Leary recounted filming over twenty takes, but director Josh Safdie felt the strikes looked too light and unconvincing. "I wound up like a baseball bat, and I nailed his right cheek, and I think his eyeballs exploded out of his head, and that's what you see," O'Leary described of the final, brutal take used in the movie. He praised Chalamet as a "crazy trooper" for his professional reaction.
O'Leary's Unconventional Casting and On-Set Dynamic
The Shark Tank judge also shared insights into his own casting, revealing that director Safdie told him they needed "a real a**hole for the role and you're it." Despite his own agent advising against the part, O'Leary sought to push beyond his comfort zone. He described the immediate transformation he witnessed in Chalamet when the cameras rolled: "He gets up, walks about 20 feet, doesn't talk to anybody, comes back and boom. He's in character. He's not Timmy Chalamet anymore. He's Marty Supreme."
This dynamic, O'Leary noted, made it "very easy once he's the kid, and I'm Milton, to crap on him, because he was an arrogant little a**hole." He effusively praised his co-star's talent, stating Chalamet "deserves" an Oscar win for his performance.
Building Buzz for a Christmas Release
Marty Supreme, described as the story of a young man going "to hell and back in pursuit of greatness," is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on Christmas Day. The film has already generated significant pre-release buzz, earning three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Actor for Chalamet and Best Picture.
Chalamet has embarked on an extensive press tour, emphasising the film as an "original" project about dream-chasing. A-list support has been visible, with celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Tom Brady spotted wearing official Marty Supreme merchandise. The actor expressed confidence about the film's prospects, hinting at potential Academy Award recognition by next summer. The Golden Globes ceremony, where the film will compete, is set for January 11.
The ensemble cast also features Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Fran Drescher, and Tyler, The Creator.
