First look at Robert Carlyle's directorial return in chilling new trailer
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
[Friday August 14th, 2026] The tension inducing trailer for a new short-film, directed by Robert Carlyle, BAFTA Award-winning star of Trainspotting and The Full Monty, has been released.
three, which debuts today at the 79th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (visit threefilmthree.co.uk for full details), is produced by Aldgate Pictures & Three Productions and written by Isaac Gryn and Patrick McPherson. three stars Victoria Hamilton, Nicholas Rowe and Isaac Gryn.
The film follows 24-year-old Matt (played by Gryn), who arrives at the London home of wealthy, middle-aged couple Sarah (Victoria Hamilton) and Ed (Nicholas Rowe), after accepting an invitation for a sexual encounter. What begins as a charged proposition soon proves far more complex. As drinks flow and boundaries blur, each of the three tests what the others want, what they will allow, and what they can be made to confess. Darkly funny and increasingly unsettling, three unfolds as a seductive game of control in which desire, class and power collide; and no one can agree on who is using whom.
Robert Caryle said: "I'm delighted with the project. I've read many scripts over the years and it's very rare that I come across something that feels as original as three. It's dark, it's funny, and I was really drawn in by the sense of tension."
He added: "I've always enjoyed directing, and our film featured an incredibly talented cast and crew who each brought so much experience and passion to set."
three marks Carlyle's return to the director's chair, his first film as director since 2015's The Legend of Barney Thomson. The short reunites him with cinematographer Fabian Wagner ASC BSC (Justice League, Game of Thrones) and an acclaimed creative team, including Academy Award-nominated editor Jon Harris (127 Hours), sound supervisor Howard Bargroff, production designer Danielle Bayliss, and composers Antony Genn and Martin Slattery.
Writer, Actor, Producer, Isaac Gryn said: "Patrick and I wanted to write something that constantly shifts the audience's perspective. Every character believes they're in control until they aren't. Working with Robert and this cast gave the story a depth we could only have hoped for. We're now excited by the potential in a feature version."
The short film's producer (alongside Isaac Gryn & Amy James) Stefan Demetriou of Aldgate Pictures (Yungblud. Are You Ready, Boy?, RAYE Live at the Royal Albert Hall) said: "Aldgate Pictures are incredibly proud to present 'three'. Isaac and Patrick have crafted a brilliant story here, with the kind of depth that we believe will now translate into a timely and important feature. I cannot wait to see how audiences at Edinburgh respond. There is a bright future ahead for this film."
On working with Robert Carlyle, Stefan said, "He's a legend and one of the UK's most talented actors. It was fascinating to see him step into the director's chair and bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to the set, and his ability to draw out wonderful performances from our cast.
About Aldgate Pictures:
Founded in 2021 by Stefan Demetriou to take music artists' creativity further into factual and scripted projects and tell broader stories that reflect contemporary culture. Their recent film 'RAYE – Live at the Royal Albert Hall' won the 2025 Broadcast Award for Best Music Programme and was Grammy nominated earlier this year for 'Best Music Film'. They currently have a slate of arts and scripted projects both in development and active production.