Aidan Gillen and Colm Meaney Join Film About Paddy Power’s Rise

Irish production company Playhouse Studios is developing a feature film about Paddy Power’s transformation from an Irish bookmaker into an international gambling business.

Aidan Gillen, known for playing Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish in Game of Thrones, is attached to star alongside Colm Meaney, Brian Gleeson and Alex Murphy. Matt Lipsey, whose television credits include Ted Lasso and Inside No. 9, will direct. 

Adaptation of Aaron Rogan’s Investigative Book

The film, titled Paddy Power, is based on journalist Aaron Rogan’s 2021 book, Punters: How Paddy Power Bet Billions and Changed Gambling Forever.

Dale Longmore and John Quinn are adapting the book and writing the screenplay with Brian Durnin. The project is the first title announced from Playhouse Studios’ original scripted slate.

Paddy Power co-founder and former chief executive Stewart Kenny is a central figure in the source material. The story examines the company’s commercial expansion and its distinctive approach to advertising, alongside the consequences of the wider growth in online gambling. 

Marketing Success and Gambling Harm

The filmmakers’ synopsis signals that the adaptation will address gambling addiction as well as the company’s business achievements.

Playhouse chief executive Peggy Cafferty described the story as combining dark humour, ambition and the consequences of risk-taking. Rogan said the expansion of gambling in the United States made the adaptation particularly timely and gave the Irish business story international relevance. 

The announced cast members have not yet been publicly assigned specific characters in the reporting reviewed.

Release Date Remains Unannounced

The production remains in development. No release date has been announced, and the available production listing gives no confirmed filming start date. 

The project announcement identifies Playhouse Studios as the producer. It does not establish that Paddy Power or its parent company, Flutter Entertainment, is commissioning or financing the film.