Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Josh Safdie
Feb 2, 2026
Josh Safdie, filmmaker behind Uncut Gems and Good Time, chats about his new film Marty Supreme and his casting-first approach. He explains writing for Timothée Chalamet, recruiting real-world faces, and choreographing authentic table-tennis scenes. They also swap stories about Adam Sandler and festival life.
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Adam Sandler's Unfiltered Warmth
- Josh Safdie describes Adam Sandler as a deeply affectionate, impulsive presence who drops in unannounced and leaves quickly.
- Safdie recounts Sandler's habit of saying "the best" about trivial things and charging through visits with boundless energy.
Long Development Equals Precise Casting
- Safdie spent a decade getting Uncut Gems right and six years on Marty Supreme, showing his long development cycles.
- He treats persistence and relationship-building as essential to casting and realizing specific actors' visions.
Seeing Timothée's Star Potential Early
- Safdie met Timothée Chalamet at a party and later saw him expand a small film into a star-making performance.
- That early impression led Safdie to write Marty for Chalamet's kinetic presence and vulnerability.
