Colin Farrell plays a gambler on the run in director Edward Berger’s anticipated thriller, “Ballad of a Small Player.” Netflix has slated the film for a prime release: it opens in U.S. theaters on Oct. 15, arrives in U.K. and Ireland cinemas on Oct. 17 and debuts on the streamer on Oct. 29.
Based on Lawrence Osborne’s novel of the same name, the screenplay is adapted by Rowan Joffe, best known for writing “28 Weeks Later” (2007) and “The American” (2010). Farrell stars as Lord Doyle, a high‑stakes gambler laying low in Macau after his past and mounting debts catch up with him. There, he meets a kindred spirit who may hold the key to his salvation. The film also stars Fala Chen, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings and Oscar winner Tilda Swinton.
Farrell is enjoying a banner year after earning his first Emmy nomination for portraying the menacing Oz Cobb in the Batman spinoff miniseries “The Penguin.”
Berger has earned acclaim in recent years. His German-language remake of “All Quiet on the Western Front” (2022) was nominated for best picture and won four Academy Awards, including international feature. It also set a BAFTA record with seven awards, the most ever in the history of the awards. Berger followed that success with “Conclave,” which secured a best adapted screenplay Oscar for Peter Straughan earlier this year.
Many of Berger’s frequent artisans are on board for the drama, including Oscar‑winning cinematographer James Friend; production designer Jonathan Houlding; makeup and hair designer Heike Merker; costume designer Lisy Christl; editor Nick Emerson; and Oscar‑winning composer Volker Bertelmann.
“Ballad of a Small Player” is produced by Mike Goodridge and Matthew James Wilkinson.
Take a look at the first look images below.
The post “Ballad of a Small Player With Colin Farrell Sets Netflix Release Date” by Clayton Davis was published on 07/17/2025 by variety.com