Timothée Chalamet Went Through 40 Takes of Spanking Without a Double for ‘Marty Supreme’

Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary made his acting debut in A24’s new sports dramedy Marty Supreme, starring alongside Timothée Chalamet. One of the film’s most talked-about scenes involves O’Leary spanking Chalamet with a ping pong paddle.

In the movie, O’Leary plays Milton Rockwell, a wealthy entrepreneur married to retired actress Kay Stone, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Chalamet’s character, Marty Mauser, is an aspiring ping-pong champion who becomes involved with Kay. Marty sees Milton as his ticket to compete in the world championships in Tokyo, but it comes with a humiliating condition.

O’Leary told Variety that Chalamet could have used a body double for the scene, but the actor insisted on doing it himself. “When it came time to whack him, there was a stunt a**. There was a double,” O’Leary said. “[Chalamet] wouldn’t do it. He said he’ll do it himself. He didn’t want some other a** immortalized.”

The scene became even more intense when the prop paddle broke on the first take, forcing O’Leary to use a real one. The shoot went on for hours, with director Josh Safdie asking for about 40 takes, stretching into the early morning. “Josh was saying, ‘You’ve got to wind up harder,’” O’Leary recalled. “I was really whacking him.”

This is his part. MARTY SUPREME is now playing in theaters nationwide. pic.twitter.com/CVFmzGj3t6

— A24 (@A24) December 30, 2025

O’Leary described the spanking as a key moment of humiliation for Marty. “He had pissed me off so much and insulted me so many times that capital punishment was correct,” he said. “I never felt satisfied that he suffered enough for what he did. Even now, I’m still pissed.”

Marty Supreme premiered on December 25 and had a strong opening weekend, earning $17.4 million at the box office, making it A24’s second-biggest debut to date. The film has been praised by critics, and Chalamet is already generating awards buzz, with many pundits calling him a frontrunner for the best actor category.

It’s impressive to see Chalamet take on a challenging and awkward scene himself, showing dedication to his role. The moment adds a memorable and bold touch to the film that audiences won’t forget. Do you think Chalamet’s decision to skip a body double was worth it? Share your thoughts in the comments.