Netflix Unveils Teaser for Ballad of a Small Player, a Haunting Gambling Thriller Starring Colin Farrell

Netflix has released the first teaser trailer for Ballad of a Small Player, a stylish and moody gambling thriller directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front). The film stars Colin Farrell in a brooding lead role, alongside Fala Chen, Tilda Swinton, Deanie Ip, and Alex Jennings. Based on the novel by Lawrence Osborne, the film is slated for release on October 15, 2025.

Set in the neon-lit gambling mecca of Macau, Ballad of a Small Player follows Lord Doyle (Farrell), a disgraced British lawyer hiding from his past—and his creditors. Doyle wastes away in luxury casinos, drinking recklessly and gambling what's left of his fading fortune. As his debts pile up and desperation creeps in, he encounters Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a mysterious casino hostess with secrets that could change everything. But just as Doyle clings to the hope of redemption, he finds himself being pursued by Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton), a relentless private investigator determined to expose the truth he's tried to bury.

With a screenplay by Rowan Joffe (Before I Go to Sleep, 28 Weeks Later), the film promises a psychological exploration of guilt, illusion, and self-destruction wrapped in the shimmering, seductive backdrop of Asia’s gambling underworld. Berger’s direction, combined with a magnetic performance from Farrell and a sharp supporting cast, suggests a slow-burn noir that’s equal parts poetic and haunting.

The teaser offers a glimpse of its dreamlike visuals, dense atmosphere, and Farrell’s descent into paranoia and existential dread—a far cry from typical gambling dramas. It's not just about bets and bluffs; it’s about the psychological stakes of living a lie for too long.

Ballad of a Small Player premieres on Netflix globally on October 15, 2025, and is expected to make its festival debut earlier in the fall.