Can Lord Doyle outrun a cunning private investigator? “Ballad of a Small Player” sees the gambler risk it all in Macau, even as rising debts and past mistakes cloud his decisions. This cinematic adaptation of Lawrence Osborne’s novel hails from a screenplay by Rowan Joffe. “Conclave” and “All Quiet on the Western Front” director Edward Berger helms the upcoming Netflix project.
Colin Farrell stars as the down-on-his-luck Doyle. The actor will receive the Golden Icon Award at this year’s Zurich Film Festival, which also features ‘Player’ among its 2025 selections. His co-stars include Fala Chen, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings, and Tilda Swinton. Chen previously starred in the blockbuster “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” as well as the MCU title “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
The film’s official synopsis:
“Lord Doyle (Colin Farrell) is laying low in Macau – spending his days and nights on the casino floors, drinking heavily and gambling what little money he has left. Struggling to keep up with his fast-rising debts, he is offered a lifeline by the mysterious Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a casino employee with secrets of her own.
However, in hot pursuit is Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton) – a private investigator ready to confront Doyle with what he is running from. As Doyle tries to climb to salvation, the confines of reality start to close in.”
Berger, Mike Goodridge, and Matthew James Wilkinson serve as producers on “Ballad of a Small Player.” The film makes its Canadian debut during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, which means it’ll make its world premiere in Telluride. It opens in select US theaters on October 15, expanding to UK and Ireland theaters on October 17. ‘Player’ arrives on Netflix on October 29. Watch the new trailer below.
