Colin Farrell is set to continue his recent hot streak with the release of The Ballad of a Small Player early next year. The film, which is being directed by Edward Berger, of the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front fame, co-stars Tilda Swinton and is set in the casino metropolis of Macau.
A Trend Towards Casino-Based Films
The upcoming Farrell vehicle will be the latest in a recent trend we’ve noticed towards films set in and around casinos. Sean Baker’s Anora, for instance, won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and Best Film at the L.A. Film Critics Association Awards, and the forthcoming The Last Showgirl, which is being hailed as a career comeback for lead Pamela Anderson, will be released in January 2025.
The Ballad of a Small Player is expected to offer realistic insights into Macau’s casino scene, with its Vegas-style casinos offering private table game rooms that cater to the region’s high rollers. The film was shot on the gaming floors of The Londoner, a London-themed casino resort. The British-inspired interiors will be familiar to those who play roulette online, especially live dealer games filmed at London’s famous Hippodrome casino. The opulence and style of the casino is vital to the ambience of these live games, and this upcoming film understands the importance of aesthetics in the casino world. Berger has decided to blend Eastern and Western aesthetics, perhaps offering an interesting take on the fish-out-of-water narrative, highlighted further by Berger’s frenetic visual style.
What We Know About The Ballad of a Small Player
The Ballad of a Small Player is a drama that centres on a high-rolling gambler (Farrell) who finds himself in Macau after running away from his past. When he meets a mysterious kindred spirit (Swinton), the gambler is offered a new path to personal redemption.
The film is a creative collaboration between Berger and streaming service Netflix. It is based on the Lawrence Osborne 2014 thriller novel of the same name with an adapted screenplay by Rowan Joffé, known for thrillers The American and The Informer. Production began in June in Macau and Hong Kong. The film is currently in post-production, with release details yet to emerge. Berger has described it as embracing “chaos and opera,” promising much the same complex storytelling and visual dynamism that many have come to expect from the German director.
Key Talent and Career Highs
Farrell’s role comes amidst a stellar period for the actor. He was nominated Best Actor at the 2023 Golden Globes for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin before crafting further critically praised performances in The Penguin and Sugar this year. His transformative role in The Penguin has earned him a Best Actor nod at next year’s Golden Globes.
Meanwhile, Edward Berger is riding high on the success of Conclave, a papal thriller starring Ralph Fiennes that has earned six Golden Globe nominations in 2025, including Best Director. He is now working on the sci-fi blockbuster project The Barrier starring Austin Butler for 20th Century Studios.
With a star-studded team in front of and behind the camera, The Ballad of a Small Player is expected to be another hit for Netflix. With wins predicted for both Berger and Farrell at the upcoming Golden Globes, the project is bound to create a stir upon release.
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