10-Foot Timothée Chalamet Sculpture Honors Marty Supreme at Turin Film Museum

Turin's National Film Museum has put up a nearly 10-foot sculpture of Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, the ping-pong player from the upcoming film Marty Supreme. The display opened on January 14, 2026, inside the Mole Antonelliana, Italy's main cinema landmark, to mark the movie's growing attention after its festival debut and award wins.

Background

Marty Supreme tells the story of Marty Mauser, a young man in 1950s New York who rises in table tennis. Timothée Chalamet plays the lead role, showing Mauser's drive to succeed no matter the cost. The character draws from real American table tennis player Marty Reisman, known for his skill in the sport during that era. Director Josh Safdie helms the film, which he also co-wrote with Ronald Bronstein. Safdie and Chalamet both serve as producers.

The movie first hit screens in Italy at the 43rd Torino Film Festival on November 26, 2025, as a secret screening. That event built early buzz. Now, with Chalamet fresh off his first Golden Globe win, the film eyes Oscar nods after BAFTA and other award mentions. It hits Italian theaters on January 22, 2026, through I Wonder Pictures and Unipol Biografilm Collection.

Turin has a long film history. The city hosted early cinema tech like Edison's Kinetoscope in 1895. By 1908, most Italian films came from there. The National Film Museum in the Mole Antonelliana holds devices from pre-cinema days to modern tools. This spot often honors big names, like the Tim Burton show years back.

Key Details

The sculpture stands almost three meters tall in one of the VR rooms near the Temple Hall inside the museum. It shows Chalamet as Mauser in a key pose that mixes drive, humor, and hero-like tension. The figure seems to reach out, as if asking visitors to pick up a paddle and play.

This piece started as part of an immersive setup at Lucca Comics & Games 2025 in the I Wonder / A24 pavilion. Creative director Lulu Helbaek designed the experience. Studio FoLl.iA built it, with art from sculptor and set designer Dominique Gaucher, who has over 30 years in the field. The statue captures the film's energy on its own, turning Mauser into a larger-than-life mix of sports star and flawed hero.

Film Cast and Style

Chalamet leads a strong cast. Gwyneth Paltrow plays a key role, alongside Odessa A'zion and Tyler, The Creator, as Okonma. The story follows Mauser from shoe salesman life with his strict mother, played by Fran Drescher, to chasing table tennis glory. Production designer Jack Fisk created detailed 1950s New York sets, filmed right in the city.

The film's pace mixes fast action, laughs, and deep feelings. Chalamet's turn has drawn praise as standout, with terms like extraordinary and perfect from early viewers. At 150 minutes, it keeps a high energy through ping-pong matches and personal struggles.

"The sculpture brings Marty Mauser to life in an iconic pose, blending ambition, irony, and heroic tension." – Museum display note

What This Means

This museum display ties Marty Supreme to Turin's film roots while boosting the movie before release. Placing the sculpture in the VR area links old cinema tech to new immersive stories, much like past exhibits with zoetropes or artist tributes. It draws fans to the Mole Antonelliana, a domed tower that draws over a million visitors yearly for its views and collections.

For Chalamet, the honor comes at peak time. His Golden Globe marks a shift in his career, from younger roles to this intense lead. The sculpture spotlights his physical prep for table tennis scenes, which took months of training. It also nods to the sport's niche appeal, turning ping-pong into a dramatic hook.

The move from Lucca Comics to Turin shows smart promotion. Comics fans met the character first in immersive play; now museum-goers get a static but striking view. With the film out soon, expect more events. Italian release on January 22 could spark wider European rollout. Award chatter keeps growing, with Oscars on the horizon.

Turin's choice fits its pattern of blending film history with hits. Past events like Tim Burton's masterclass and exhibit packed the place. This sculpture does the same, making Marty Supreme part of the city's cinema story. Visitors can see it ongoing, paired with museum tours of early film gear and Italian movie relics. The display shows how one character's drive mirrors the ambition that built global cinema from this northern Italian hub.