[Josh Safdie on Filmmaking, Adam Sandler, and Conan’s Erewhon Ambitions]-[Josh Safdie]

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend · B2 · 2026-02-02

📋 Summary

The Cinematic Vision of Josh Safdie

In this episode of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, filmmaker Josh Safdie joins the show to discuss his creative process, his long-standing collaboration with Adam Sandler, and his latest project, Marty Supreme. Safdie, known for high-intensity films like Uncut Gems and Good Time, shares his unique philosophy on casting and directing. He describes his approach as searching for the "essence" of individuals, often casting non-professional actors—such as a horse better or a former homeless man with a "golden voice"—because they possess a raw authenticity that traditional actors cannot emulate. He explains that his directing style involves making people feel comfortable enough to exist naturally on camera, often eschewing rigid blocking in favor of capturing genuine human behavior.

The Sandler Connection

Safdie reflects on his profound professional and personal bond with Adam Sandler. He highlights Sandler's unique ability to oscillate between being "mushy" and vulnerable to possessing a latent, intense energy that defines his best performances. Safdie notes that he wrote Uncut Gems specifically for Sandler, despite the actor passing on the script multiple times over a decade. He describes Sandler as a "mastiff" of a person—constantly moving, deeply anxious, yet incredibly open. The conversation also touches on Sandler’s idiosyncratic fashion sense and his spontaneous, high-energy personality, which Safdie views as a core part of the "Sandler brand."

Defining the "Marty Supreme" Process

Discussing Marty Supreme, Safdie explains that the film was written for Timothée Chalamet, whom he describes as a "nuclear force." Safdie recounts how Chalamet prepared for the role by training extensively in table tennis, working with Olympic-level players to master the mechanics of the sport. Safdie emphasizes that the film is not a traditional biopic but a work of fiction inspired by the "wiry" outsiders and table tennis enthusiasts of mid-century New York. He describes the film’s narrative as a "heist film" regarding dreams, where the protagonist’s desperate need to be the "best" drives the tension. Safdie argues that while the character of Marty may be unlikable, the audience roots for him because they connect with his pure, albeit flawed, pursuit of greatness.

The Erewhon Smoothie Pitch

In a humorous pivot, the episode concludes with Conan’s obsession over the rebranding of the "Hailey Bieber Smoothie" at the luxury grocery store Erewhon. Now renamed the "Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie," Conan expresses genuine dismay that a celebrity name is no longer attached to the product. He jokingly pitches himself as the perfect replacement, citing his "luminous skin" and "youthful behavior" as sufficient qualifications. Despite the reality that the product would likely need to be reformulated with "1950s government-issue rations" to match his brand, Conan insists that he is the logical successor to the throne, asserting that he is "like gravity" and that people will eventually have to accept the "Conan O'Brien Smoothie" as an inevitable reality.

🎯Key Sentences

I like to get the vibe in the room.

I like to match the temperature.

I don't know why you're bitching.

You and I are coming at this from different angles.

I've never held up a rap sign more.

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📝Key Phrases

go downhill

live off of

take care of yourself

look up to

throw under the bus

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📖 Transcript

Hi, my name is Josh Safdie and I feel like a liar.

Saying that I feel anything about being Conan O'Brien.

Fall is here, hear the yell.

Back to school, ring the bell.

Brand new shoes, walkin' blues.

Climb the fence, books and pens.

It's just different. yeah but it means a lot and also weirdly weirdly i was saying someone was asking me because abel ferrara who's in the film uh who i've been a huge fan of and i knew him when he was not a sober person and i know you did too yeah and uh one of the best conan interviews is the abel ferrara conan interview because it is it is like yoga man you are stretching you are doing it was unhinged and i'll tell you You know, sometimes there are movies about show business and in movies about show business, like, you know, my favorite year, there's just improbable crazy things that happen.

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