Timothee Chalamet has unveiled one of his most eccentric photo shoots to date, embracing a completely new persona for the latest issue of W magazine. The Oscar-nominated actor fully immersed himself in the role of Shend, a quirky New Yorker character, under the creative direction of his Marty Supreme collaborator Josh Safdie.
The Unconventional Character of Shend
In a series of striking images, Chalamet portrays Shend as a "30-something dreamer-schemer who still lives with his mother, makes pimped-out controllers he hawks from the trunk of his car, is a champion Yu-Gi-Oh! card player," while also working as a doorman. One particularly memorable shot features the actor clad in a blue tracksuit, cradling a giant dark gray rabbit, encapsulating the character's offbeat charm.
"Shend is a very New York guy," the 30-year-old actor elaborated, "but a more contemporary version of an outsider." This portrayal marks a significant departure from his typical roles, showcasing his versatility and willingness to explore unconventional creative avenues.
Oscar Speculation and Personal Life
As the Academy Awards approach on March 15, fans have taken to social media to speculate whether Chalamet will attend with girlfriend Kylie Jenner. One enthusiast wrote, "Is he gonna bring Kylie or what? If not, I am tuning out," while another commented, "He needs to lean on Ky, she is a Leo and he needs her strength at the Oscars."
The couple was last seen together at the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 in London on February 22, following appearances at the Golden Globe Awards in January and the Critics Choice Awards earlier that month. Chalamet, who has earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, making him the youngest male actor to achieve this feat at age 30, faces stiff competition this year from Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, and Wagner Moura.
Intensity on the Dune 3 Set
Looking beyond the Oscars, Chalamet is set to reprise his role as Paul Atreides in Dune 3, approaching the final chapter of the sci-fi saga with unprecedented intensity. Speaking at a Variety and CNN event at the University of Texas at Austin, he revealed, "I didn't want to be complacent about a single moment. Everything was sacred, and it was my last time doing a Dune film, so I really wanted to treat it as sacred."
He emphasized that returning to familiar sequences, such as the ornithopter scene from the first film, only heightened his determination to elevate his performance. "On Dune 3, as opposed to the first movie, I came out early and studied the control panel—all sorts of hieroglyphics and things that aren't tethered to reality. I wanted to know what each button did, and invent a dynamic for myself with it," Chalamet explained.
Responding to Criticism and Unsolicited Advice
In a candid conversation with Matthew McConaughey for Variety, Chalamet addressed a "punk" co-star who questioned his acting abilities due to his lack of formal conservatory training. "No names, but the guy was a punk," Chalamet recalled. "He asked me what conservatory I had gone to, and I said I didn't go to an acting conservatory. And he said, 'Well, you haven't trained as an actor then.' And we were all part of an ensemble."
Despite such encounters, Chalamet praised McConaughey for not offering unsolicited advice during their work together on Interstellar. "I always said, 'Beware of the people in life that get more of the advice they give you than you get at the advice.' They're thrilled by the act of giving you advice. All of a sudden you can't listen to what they're saying anymore because they're flexing on you so hard. You never did that to me, though, which I'm grateful for," he shared.
Oscar 2026 Nominations Overview
The 2026 Academy Awards feature a competitive field, with Sinners leading the pack with 16 nominations, including Best Picture. Chalamet is nominated for Best Actor for his role in Marty Supreme, alongside DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Hawke for Blue Moon, Jordan for Sinners, and Moura for The Secret Agent.
Other notable categories include Best Actress, with contenders like Jessie Buckley for Hamnet and Emma Stone for Bugonia, and Best Director, where Josh Safdie is recognized for Marty Supreme. The international category sees films from Brazil, France, Norway, Spain, and Tunisia vying for the award, highlighting the global scope of this year's Oscars.
