In the Josh Safdie-directed A24 film Marty Supreme just released, Timothée Chalamet reportedly went to extreme lengths for authenticity during a key scene where his character, Marty Mauser, is publicly punished with a paddle.
The scene occurs when Marty, a reckless table tennis pro, is forced to beg the ruthless businessman Milton Rockwell (played by Kevin O’Leary) for financial support. Rockwell agrees on one condition: Marty must submit to a humiliating spanking in front of a room of socialites.
According to interviews with Kevin O’Leary and director Josh Safdie, the production originally planned to use a stunt double and a modified prop paddle with a hinge to minimize impact. However, the sequence evolved into a much more intense physical ordeal:
At the last minute, Chalamet dismissed the stunt double, stating, “There’s no fake ass here. It’s gonna be my ass. I’m going to immortalize my ass on film.”
The “stunt paddle” broke early in filming. Instead of stopping to repair it, the crew switched to a real wooden paddle.
Chalamet insisted on staying in the scene for roughly 20 takes. O’Leary noted that by the end of the night, Chalamet’s skin had the paddle’s brand name literally imprinted on it.
Safdie reportedly urged O’Leary to hit Chalamet harder to capture a genuine reaction of shock and pain. O’Leary remarked that he could “feel the heat” coming off the actor’s skin during the final takes.
WATCH THE MARTY SUPREME TRAILER:
