Netflix has revealed the first teaser for its upcoming psychological thriller Ballad of a Small Player, led by Academy Award nominee Colin Farrell. The film will premiere in select theaters on October 15 before making its streaming debut on Netflix on October 29.
The project comes from acclaimed director Edward Berger, best known for All Quiet on the Western Front and the upcoming Conclave. Adapted from Lawrence Osborne’s 2014 novel by screenwriter Rowan Joffé (28 Weeks Later), the film features Farrell as Lord Doyle, a man consumed by gambling, alongside Tilda Swinton as the enigmatic investigator Cynthia Blithe.
The teaser sets the stage in Macau, where Doyle spends his days and nights chasing luck at the casinos while drowning in alcohol and mounting debt. Although the preview keeps much of the plot under wraps, it highlights Doyle’s spiraling addiction and his desperate attempts to escape the consequences.
Joining Farrell and Swinton in the cast are Fala Chen (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire), Deanie Ip (A Simple Life), and Alex Jennings (Blitz).
Netflix’s official synopsis reads:
“Lord Doyle (Colin Farrell) is hiding out in Macau, whiling away his dwindling fortune in casinos. Facing crushing debts, he encounters Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a casino employee harboring secrets of her own. Just as hope appears, Doyle is confronted by Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton), a private investigator determined to uncover the truth about his past. As Doyle struggles toward redemption, the boundaries of reality begin to blur.”
With its mix of intrigue, desperation, and noir atmosphere, Ballad of a Small Player promises a haunting exploration of obsession and downfall.
