Tyler, the Creator to Make Film Debut in A24’s ‘Marty Supreme’

Tyler, the Creator is headed for the big screen. The Call Me If You Get Lost rapper will join A24‘s Marty Supreme cast, opposite Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow. The Monday announcement marks Tyler, the Creator’s feature film debut.

Though details regarding the film are still sparse, the Josh Safdie-directed project is loosely inspired by the pro ping pong player Marty Reisman, Variety reports. Reisman, nicknamed “the Needle” for his slim frame and witty nature, won 22 major table tennis titles from 1946 to 2002. Reisman, who died in 2012 at age 82, hustled the wealthy out of table tennis wagers and became a touring act with the Harlem Globetrotters.

The project marks Safdie’s latest project since directing the 2019 crime drama, Uncut Gems. Previously, Chalamet was rumored to star in an untitled Netflix film by Josh and Benny Safdie, with Adam Sandler expected to lead. Megan Thee Stallion was also expected to star in the film centered on the world of sports memorabilia, per Indiewire.

Tyler, the Creator has made recent headlines for calling out artists who make music for the meme generation. “There’s so many niggas out right now that aren’t musicians that are getting treated like musicians because they make meme records — publicly will be like, ‘I don’t give a fuck about music. I just do this shit for money,’” the Igor rapper said in an August interview. Some online critiques viewed the rapper’s comments to be tone deaf, and described “meme” music as a by-product of an evolved music landscape, influenced by multibillion-dollar tech companies and “For You” pages.