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Fair Playis a new film that encompasses the ever-evolving world of sex, money, and cut-throat career choices. In her first feature debut, writer and directorChloe Domontexamines the intricate inner workings of navigating romantic relationships in the workplace. Similar to the romantic trysts that occur throughout the Netflix seriesHouse of Cards, this film highlights the disproportional sense of self-worth in a highly competitive work environment. This article will tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming drama-thriller.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on September 27.
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When Does ‘Fair Play’ Come Out?
The film had its premiere in January at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Since then, Netflix has acquired the distribution rights for $20 million after a lengthy bidding war with multiple other production companies.Fair Playwill have an international premiere this September at the48th Toronto International Film Festival(TIFF). The film will hit Netflix worldwide on October 13. The film was met with rave reviews upon its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival,with Collider’sTherese Lacsongiving the film an A, writing in her review:
“Domont’s script is all hard edges and claws, the pernicious allure of power slowly eating its way through everything. She cleverly bookends the film in a perfect mirroring scene involving blood and tackles complicated and controversial conversations between men and women with effortless ease.”
Will ‘Fair Play’ Receive a Theatrical Release?
Yes! Netflix has confirmed a limited release for the film starting on September 29. At this point in time we don’t know which theaters will be showingFair Playso keep an eye on your local theaters as more information comes.
Is There a Trailer for ‘Fair Play’?
In the first trailer, we get an incredible first look at the film’s plot. What starts off as a steamy office romance quickly spirals off into a vicious rivalry. On September 26, we got thesecond official trailer forFair Play, which reveals more of the film’s romance, complications, and ensuing conflicts. See it right here:
What Is ‘Fair Play’ About?
Set in New York City,Fair Playcenters on the lives of two individuals working at the same hedge-fund firm, who find themselves in a complicated relationship. Shortly after their engagement to one another, one of them gets an unexpected promotion, which skews the dynamic of their relationship significantly. It’s generally discouraged to engage in a romantic relationship with a co-worker, but “life, uh… finds a way.” The shifting of power when it comes to shared finances within a relationship tends to come with stressful conversations and unease about who is contributing the most.
Things get even more complicated when gender roles influence the characters’ emotions and reactions to this promotion, where it has been heavily implied that the character of Emily gets a promotion that places her higher on the corporate “totem pole” than her new fiancé, Luke. It’s no coincidence that the color green is often associated with both moneyand envy. Movies that revolve around Wall Street dealings often touch upon the biblical “Seven Deadly Sins,” displaying glaring examples of greed, gluttony, pride, lust, envy, and wrath. The only one that’s left out is “sloth,” which is hard to find in the fast-paced world of the stock market.
Director Chloe Domont does not pull her punches in this stressful, intense workplace relationship story, bringing the historicalgender inequality of certain professionsright into the spotlight. Where is the line drawn when you have to choose between ambition and mutual respect for your partner? Will the competitive nature of their jobs interfere with their seemingly perfect and loving relationship? The sudden shift in power dynamics teaches both Emily and Luke that they don’t know each other as well as they previously thought they did. They’ll each have to seriously reconsider their priorities if their relationship is going to survive this ruthless work environment.
While further plot details have remained a mystery, this film is shaping up to be comparable to other high-intensity workplace dramas such asThe Ides of MarchorWall Street.
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Who Is In the Cast of ‘Fair Play’?
The two main characters of this movie are played byPhoebe DynevorandAlden Ehrenreich. Dynevor, who is best known for her performance asDaphne in the hit seriesBridgerton, will take on the role of Emily inFair Play. The English actress landed her first role at the age of 14, in the fifth season of the BBC’s drama seriesWaterloo Road, and has been gaining momentum in her acting career ever since. Alden Ehrenreich will play opposite Dynevor, as her fiancé, Luke.
Ehrenreich started his acting career in 2005 when he joined the cast of the popular television seriesSupernatural. He later went on to take a lead role in the 2016Coen BrotherscomedyHail, Caesar!, as well as playing Han Solo inSolo: A Star Wars Story. Most recently, he appeared in the dark “inspired by true events” comedy,Cocaine Bear, and an even darker, significantly less comedic “inspired by true events” film,Oppenheimer.
Joining them in the cast isEddie Marsan. Most recently appearing as Bernie Monke in theAmazon Original drama seriesThe Power, Marsan has also made appearances in films such asDeadpool 2,Choose or Die, andRay Donovan: The Movie. InFair Play, Eddie Marsan will be playing a character named Campbell. It is likely that he will be the boss of both Luke and Emily’s characters. Additionally,Sebastian de Souza(The Great) will play a character named Rory, who will most likely be an office colleague,Rich Sommer(The Dropout),Geraldine Somerville(Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), andPatrick Fischler(Barry) will join the cast.
Who Is Making ‘Fair Play’?
In addition to Chloe Domont as executive producer, the film is also executive produced byRian JohnsonandRam Bergman, who were both producers forKnives OutandGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. This film is also being produced by brothersTim WhiteandTrevor White(Ingrid Goes West) as well asLeopold Hughes(Knives Out),Ben LeClair(The Lovers), andAllan Mandelbaum(King Richard).
