In July 2025, I got an email from a man who owns a gym in a small Scottish town, and it turned out to be more interesting than I expected. The subject line read: “Re: Use of Gym facilities.” He explained that word had gone around that Damian Lewis and the cast of a new production were looking for a private place to work out while filming in Argyll. He described his gym in Lochgilphead as “well-appointed” and able to offer “privacy and anonymity,” and said the only thing they would ask in return was a small photo opportunity when time allowed.
At that point, I had no idea what production he was talking about. We knew that Damian had finished filming The Runner – another movie we will talk about in ” A First Look” post soon – but nothing else had been announced yet. I simply forwarded the email to Damian’s PA and moved on.
Later that summer, photos began circulating of Damian with an ambitious moustache (this one from his weekend at the Latitude festival with Alison late July) and a distinctly period look. Still no title and no confirmation of where he was filming, but it was likely that something Victorian was happening 🙂
Then, in late September, the mystery finally solved itself when set photos surfaced online showing Damian in Victorian attire on a film set in Scotland (that waistcoat is a keeper!) The title of the project was revealed: Jack of Spades, a new film directed by Joel Coen of the Coen Brothers fame. Suddenly the gym email made perfect sense — the production wasn’t just passing through Scotland, they were filming there for real, and they needed a proper place for the cast to work out during the shoot.
Jack of Spades, shot across Scotland (Paisley, Culross, Edinburgh and Glasgow) in late 2025, features a fantastic cast: Josh O’Connor, Frances McDormand, Lesley Manville, and Damian Lewis. The film is described as a gothic mystery set in the late 19th century, which already sounds delicious. And for us, Damian fans, this kind of story is especially promising. Damian is brilliant at playing characters with charm on the outside and secrets underneath. And a Victorian setting full of manners and tension gives him the opportunity to do that.
And I LOVE Josh O’Connor. I first saw him as Prince Charles in The Crown, but then he truly shone in movies like La Chimera and The Mastermind. These are artsy, indie films — exactly the kind I like — and he’s honestly one of the best young actors working today. And then there’s Frances McDormand. What do we even say? She’s probably the best living film actress today with three Oscars to her name. Lesley Manville is another excellent addition. I recently saw her Olivier-winning performance in Oedipus and she was absolutely amazing — give her all the stage awards! And here’s a fun fact: she and Damian were actually on stage together back in 2005 in Ibsen’s The Pillars of the Community at the National Theatre. So Jack of Spades is a bit of a reunion.
Some of the filming took place in Culross, a historic village in Fife that has been used many times for period productions. In an article in The Courier, locals describe how the town is transformed into the 1800s with set dressing, road closures, and film crews everywhere. For example, a pub sign was erected on one of the village buildings.
And it seems that some of the scenes Damian is in was shot at Culross Palace, a late 16th to early 17th century merchant’s house in the village.
How do I know that? Well, as Damian has repeatedly said earlier, I am a spy, a good one! And look at the picture below. There is a sign that says “Bessie’s Cafe.” And when you google it, you find out that this cafe is at Culross Palace. Haha.
The production also rented the Culross Stables as a base for costumes and catering, and the community later used the fee to support local programs for seniors and kids, equipment upgrades, and even courtyard resurfacing. Nice!
Over in Glasgow, local coverage from The Herald included on-set photos showing a building decorated with period posters and signage from the late 1800s.
Some posters included specific references — such as the Glasgow Herald (see above) and also Britannia Music Hall — which make it clear that, unlike many productions that use Glasgow as a stand-in for other cities, Coen’s film will actually be set in Glasgow. The Britannia Music Hall is a real venue in the city (and still operating today), so it looks like the story will be rooted in a real historical Glasgow rather than a fictional Victorian place.
Plot details are still under wraps — no character names or synopsis yet — but honestly, with a cast like this you don’t need much more to build curiosity. Joel Coen also brought back longtime collaborators Bruno Delbonnel (cinematography) and Carter Burwell (music), which suggests the film will have a strong visual and emotional identity.
There’s no distributor or release date for Jack of Spades yet. But given that this does not feel like a small or casual project, and it feels more like a prestige film with awards potential, we may hear about a premiere at Cannes or Venice later this year.
I personally find this project very exciting for Damian because a Victorian world gives him room to play with secrecy, status, restraint, and pressure — all key ingredients in gothic storytelling. Another reason I’m so invested is because I tend to follow directors more than actors; I almost never see a film for the big stars in it, but for the filmmaker shaping the story. I was thrilled when Damian worked with Werner Herzog and later Quentin Tarantino, and now the prospect of him collaborating with Joel Coen — backed by this incredibly talented cast — feels just as thrilling. If the finished film delivers on the promise of the concept and its creative team, Jack of Spades could be a standout chapter in Damian’s film career. Fingers crossed!
Another great and very useful post!
Thank you so much! I’m very much looking forward to it. It looks very promising.The cast is… I mean Frances McDormand!
Tsvete
Thank you so much! YES! This is THE movie I am so looking forward to! Frances McDormand ❤️ I so hope Damian and she have scenes together!