[Trailer] Colin Farrell Hits the Casino Floor as Gambling Addict in Netflix Thriller ‘Ballad of a Small Player’
Netflix has released the first trailer and poster for the upcoming psychological thriller, Ballad of a Small Player, directed by Edward Berger.
The movie stars Colin Farrell as Lord Doyle, a man completely consumed by gambling in the flashy casinos of Macau. His life is spiraling as he struggles to pay off mounting debts, and Fala Chen’s character, Dao Ming, a casino worker, steps in to help him.
Meanwhile, Tilda Swinton plays private investigator Cynthia Blithe, who is determined to track Doyle down and confront him about his past, according to Netflix.
A high roller on a slippery slope. BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER stars Colin Farrell, Fala Chen and Tilda Swinton.
— Netflix (@netflix) August 19, 2025
Directed by Edward Berger, (Conclave, All Quiet on the Western Front). In select theaters October 15 and on Netflix October 29. pic.twitter.com/ufX6x2GDy1
The film is based on Lawrence Osborne’s 2014 novel The Ballad of a Small Player and was adapted for the screen by Rowan Joffé. The story follows a gambler and a con artist who leave Britain for Macau, where high-stakes games and dangerous encounters change their lives. Alongside Farrell, Chen, and Swinton, the movie also features Deannie Yip and Alex Jennings.
Netflix confirmed that Ballad of a Small Player will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2025, in the Special Presentations section. The film will have a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 15, 2025, followed by a release in the United Kingdom on October 17. Netflix will make it available for streaming on October 29, 2025.
Filming for the movie took place in Macau and Hong Kong, starting on June 26, 2024, and wrapping on August 25. Mike Goodridge produced the movie through Good Chaos, with Edward Berger producing for Nine Hours alongside Matthew James Wilkinson.
Colin Farrell joined the cast in April 2024, followed by Tilda Swinton later that month. Fala Chen was added in May 2024, and Deannie Yip and Alex Jennings were announced in May 2025, according to reports.
Te movie “dives into the high-stakes world of gambling, obsession, and the personal cost of chasing luck.” Fans can now get a first glimpse of the film’s stylish look through both the trailer and the newly released poster.
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