Director Josh Safdie has always been known for mixing professional actors with newbies in his films, and his latest is no exception. One of the most unforgettable aspects of Marty Supreme — the feverish ode to ping-pong and perseverance — is the famous faces we notice who are not established thespians. There’s Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank, fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, and magician Penn Jillette, among many others. But my jaw was on the floor when I saw the film and recognized renowned writer, travel essayist, and UCSB Art & Lectures’ master conversationalist Pico Iyer.
He plays the head of the International Table Tennis Association — and Timothée Chalamet’s nemesis. He has this stately demeanor in the role that becomes intimidating. He’s simply terrific. When I reached out to him after I had just seen the movie, I was shocked to find out he hadn’t seen it yet, and that he didn’t know how big his role ended up being.
How did you get cast?
