Colin Farrell shares a hug and a laugh with his 23-year-old son, James, in the new trailer for The Slightest Touch. The family moment appears in an HBO documentary that brings cameras into parts of the actor’s life he has usually kept private.
In the preview released October 28, Farrell, 50, reflects on allowing a documentary crew into his home. “I have never had a camera crew come near my home,” he says.
Farrell shares James with former partner Kim Bordenave. James has Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic condition that can affect development, speech, movement and balance, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Directed by Rachel Fleit, the documentary follows Farrell and Irish disability advocate Emma Fogarty as they prepare for the 2024 Dublin Marathon. Their plans to cross the finish line together grew out of a friendship stretching back more than 15 years.
Farrell Explains Why He Allowed Cameras Into His Home
Farrell explains his involvement in three words: “It’s for Emma.” He repeats the phrase as he talks to the filmmakers about opening up his personal life for a project centered on his friend.
The preview also captures the humor between the friends. Farrell recalls casually suggesting that they should run a marathon someday, then receiving a text from Fogarty about a year later reminding him of the offer. His blunt response makes Fogarty laugh.
Elsewhere, he discusses the difficult balance between protecting Fogarty from pain and supporting an experience she wants to have. The race would carry physical consequences for her, but Farrell says she deserves the opportunity to participate.
James Appeared With His Father in a 2024 Home Interview
James has appeared on camera with Farrell before. In August 2024, PEOPLE published an interview filmed and photographed at the actor’s Los Angeles home. During the visit, James played with a miniature basketball in the backyard.
After making eye contact with a visiting journalist, James threw the ball toward her to include her in the game. Farrell spoke about wanting people to treat his son with kindness and respect, and about the thought he had given to allowing that glimpse of their lives.
The decision was not straightforward. Farrell explained that he could not discern a clear answer from James about whether he was comfortable participating. He weighed his son’s privacy against the possibility that speaking publicly could help other families living with intellectual disabilities.
In accompanying coverage, Farrell recalled James taking his first independent steps shortly before his fourth birthday. Watching his son take six steps toward him left the actor overwhelmed after years of physical challenges.
He also described the work behind James’s progress with balance and feeding himself, expressing pride in the persistence those everyday activities required.
James Inspired Farrell’s Foundation for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities
The 2024 interview coincided with the launch of the Colin Farrell Foundation, shortly before James turned 21. Farrell had become increasingly concerned about what happens when children grow out of educational programs and other support systems intended for younger people.
He described families facing a difficult transition as they seek services for an adult child. His concern extended to the future: he wanted James and others to have meaningful relationships, opportunities and dependable support when their parents could no longer provide daily care.
The Colin Farrell Foundation identifies accessible housing and adult day programs among its priorities. Its goals include creating small group homes and larger communities where people who need substantial daily support can participate in activities and build connections.
Another focus is the workforce providing that care. The organization highlights the importance of direct support professionals, whose work helps people with intellectual disabilities manage daily activities and remain involved in their communities.
The foundation also plans Camp Solas, a retreat initiative for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. The organization expects to break ground in 2027.
Farrell Pushed Fogarty for the Marathon’s Final Four Kilometers
Farrell and Fogarty first met at a charity event supporting DEBRA, the Irish organization assisting people with epidermolysis bullosa, or EB. Fogarty lives with a severe form of the genetic condition, which makes her skin vulnerable to blistering and tearing from minor friction.
The marathon marked her 40th birthday in 2024, a milestone doctors had once told her family she was unlikely to reach. The friends used the challenge to raise awareness and money for people living with the condition.
Farrell ran the full course and pushed Fogarty’s wheelchair for the final four kilometers, one for each decade of her life. They crossed the finish line together on October 27, 2024. His finishing time was four hours, six minutes and 45 seconds, according to Sky News.
The campaign began with a €400,000 target and eventually raised €1 million. DEBRA confirmed that Fogarty presented the charity with a check almost a year after the race. The money supports research and services for families managing EB.
Fogarty Wanted the Film to Show Laughter Alongside Her Daily Care
In a February 2026 interview with The Journal, Fogarty explained that the documentary includes the realities of her medical care without making them the whole story. She described bandage changes lasting four hours every second day and the exhaustion that followed.
The film also explores the friendship that supported her through major challenges, including the loss of a leg in 2019. Fogarty said Farrell checked on her emotional well-being as well as her physical condition.
During the marathon, that closeness allowed for some bickering. She recalled warning him about curbs and bumps that could hurt her fragile skin while he urged her to relax. Despite the anxious exchanges, she said she trusted him completely.
Other memories were less predictable. During a gathering at a Dublin home ahead of the race, a napkin caught fire and briefly set part of the table alight. Fogarty laughed about the scramble it caused, describing it as one of the ordinary, chaotic moments captured alongside the more serious scenes.
The Slightest Touch Reaches HBO After Its Festival Screenings
The documentary had its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival on February 28, 2026, and screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October. HBO Documentary Films acquired worldwide television and streaming rights in February.
Fleit also produced the film alongside Claudine Farrell, Colin Farrell, Trevor Birney, Eimhear O’Neill and Frank Marshall. Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen were among the organizations involved in the production.
DOC NYC lists a 102-minute runtime and a North American premiere scheduled for November 12, followed by another screening November 14. Farrell and Fleit are scheduled to take part in a discussion after the first screening.
HBO has scheduled the film’s U.S. television and streaming debut for Wednesday, November 25, on HBO and HBO Max.