Is Marty Supreme based on a true story? Inspiration behind the Timothée Chalamet film explored

Timothee Chamalet recently gave a musical and charming performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, which was inspired by a true story. Now he is coming as Marty Mauser in Josh Safdie's solo directorial feature Marty Supreme, a sports comedy-drama inspired by a real-life personality, Marty Reisman.

Josh Safdie recently said that he was still developing the movie, but caught everyone off guard when he premiered it at the 2025 New York Film Festival, where it received some positive reviews. And then the internet went wild.

As of this writing, the film is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2025. Deadline reported that it surpassed A24's most expensive film, Civil War (2024), which was made on a $50 million budget. Marty Supreme reportedly cost $70 million.

Other than directing, Josh Safdie has co-written the script alongside Ronald Bronstein, known for films like Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019).

What's the true story behind Marty Supreme?

Timothee Chamalet plays Marty Mauser in the film. (Image via YouTube/A24)

Some sources close to the production, as per Deadline, say that the film is more like a "fictionalized original, rather than a biopic." It is loosely based on a veteran table tennis player named Marty Reisman. He was considered a proponent of the classic hardbat style.

The only difference between the modern and the hardbat is the rackets players use. He wasn't addressed as 'Marty Supreme' during his days, but he did have a nickname, 'the Needle,' because of his quick wit and slender build, United International Press notes in one story.

The real 'Marty Supreme' used to lure in challengers

The film had a premiere at the New York Film Festival. (Image via YouTube/A24)

During Marty Reisman's early days, when he simply began hustling for money, he had his own style. He played more with his brain than his hands. At first, he used to lose some of the games, so his opponent would think that they were winning the game. As soon as the opponent had believed that (which is kind of lowering one's guard), he showed them what he could actually do, destroying them in the remaining game.

Reisman also had five bronze medals to his name: three from the 1949 World Table Tennis Championships, one from the 1948 World Table Tennis Championships, and three from the 1949 World Table Tennis Championships. Later in his career, he won the 1997 United States National Hardbat Championship at the age of 67.

What did Josh Safdie said about Marty Supreme?

During one recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Josh Safdie said about the film that:

"My goal was to make it as large as I possibly could. I wanted to honor Marty Mauser’s dream to make it the greatest sport in the world. I like imagining an alternative path of history where the sport did become as big as tennis — and I had to act that way because I was making it from Marty’s point of view."

Other than Timothee Chalamet, the film also stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay Stone, Odessa A'zion as Rachel, Kevin O'Leary as Milton Rockwell, and more.