Timothée Chalamet’s co-star has shed light on why the actor decided against using a butt double for the movie, Marty Supreme.
The film, directed by Josh Safdie, is loosely based on the life of table tennis star Marty Reisman and premiered in theaters on December 25.
In addition to Chalamet, the movie features Kevin O’Leary as Milton Rockwell, an entrepreneur married to the character Kay Stone, played by Gwyneth Paltrow.
One memorable scene involves O’Leary spanking Chalamet with a ping pong paddle. Despite having a stunt double available, Chalamet chose to perform the scene himself.
As reported by Variety, O’Leary shared that the initial plan was to use a fake paddle to soften the blows. However, the prop broke during the first use, necessitating the switch to a real paddle.
The scene required around 40 takes and took hours to complete, which must have been quite uncomfortable for Chalamet.
“When it came time to whack him, there was a stunt a**. There was a double,” O’Leary revealed. “[Chalamet] wouldn’t do it. He said he’ll do it himself. He didn’t want some other a** immortalized.”
He continued: “Josh was saying, ‘You’ve got to wind up harder.’
“I was really whacking him.”
O’Leary further described the scene as ‘pivotal’ for the characters, noting that his character had been provoked enough to warrant such a response.
“I never felt satisfied that he suffered enough for what he did,” he confessed.
“Even now, I’m still p****d.”
Chalamet’s performance in the film has already earned him nominations for best actor at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.
Speaking about the film with the BBC, Chalamet reflected: “You know, when you’re in your early twenties, you’re an idiot.
“And this movie, in large part, is about being an idiot in your early twenties.
“And if on top of that, you have a passion that you’re singular about, you risk looking foolish in addition to being an idiot.”
Expressing his confidence in the film, which grossed $17.4 million in its opening weekend, Chalamet said: “This is an original film at a time where a lot of original films aren’t made.
“And there’s no part of me that’s a salesman that’s saying this, but I’ve never been more confident in saying, ‘Hey, if you bring yourself to see this movie, you won’t be let down’. It’s really like a slingshot.”