Paddy Power's founding story is being adapted for the big screen

One of the most talked-about betting success stories in the world is coming to the big screen. A new film is in development about how Paddy Power grew into a global betting giant through the merger of three Irish betting companies.

Colm Meaney, Brian Gleeson, Aidan Gillen and Alex Murphy will star in the film. Matt Lipsey will direct. The release date has not yet been announced.

The adaptation is based on journalist Aaron Rogan's 2021 book Punters. The film stands out as the first project in Playhouse Studios' slate of scripted productions. The screenplay is written by Dale Longmore, John Quinn and Brian Durnin. Rogan said that although the story is rooted in Ireland, it has global appeal, and that the growth of the betting industry in the US in recent years has made the project even more timely.

The story begins in 1988, when Paddy Power was founded through the merger of the Kenny O'Reilly partnership, Richard Power Group and Corcoran's. The company became one of the industry's most distinctive brands thanks to its provocative advertising, public relations stunts and willingness to court controversy. It launched its first online platform in 2000, merged with Betfair in 2016, and took the name Flutter Entertainment in 2020.

The film's synopsis does not name the man at its center. Some secondary outlets have claimed that the central figure is Stewart Kenny, a co-founder and former managing director. The producers have not yet said which real people will be played by which actors. Meanwhile, Colm Meaney appeared as one of Paddy Power's advertising faces in its Cheltenham Festival campaigns in 2020 and 2022, before the film was announced.