Colin Farrell has offered a rare glimpse into his private family life, sharing a touching moment with his eldest son James in a new documentary exploring friendship, disability and the challenges of running a marathon.

The Irish actor, 50, appears alongside James, 23, in The Slightest Touch, which is scheduled for release on November 25. The film follows Farrell and his longtime friend Emma Fogarty, a disability rights activist, as they prepare for the Dublin Marathon, while also documenting the actor's experiences as a father to a young man with Angelman syndrome.

In a trailer for the documentary, Farrell acknowledges how unusual it is for him to allow filmmakers into his personal life, having generally kept his family away from the cameras.

He said: "I've never had a camera crew come near my home."

The Penguin star is then seen embracing James, sharing a lighthearted exchange that offers viewers a glimpse of their relationship.

Farrell joked: "He gets away with nothing."

James, whom Farrell shares with his former girlfriend Kim Bordenave, has Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting speech, movement, balance and development.

The condition can cause significant communication difficulties and requires varying levels of lifelong support, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Farrell has spoken publicly about his son's diagnosis on several occasions, describing how becoming James's father influenced his understanding of disability and the importance of accessible support services.

During a 2008 interview, he spoke affectionately about his eldest child and the impact he had made on his life.

He said: "He's nothing but a gift."

Farrell added: "He's, as far as I'm concerned, exactly the way he should be."

The actor subsequently established the Colin Farrell Foundation in 2024, an organization dedicated to supporting people with intellectual disabilities through advocacy, education and improved access to services.

The foundation particularly focuses on the difficulties families can encounter when children with disabilities reach adulthood and lose access to educational programs and other forms of structured assistance.

Speaking to People about the challenges facing young adults with disabilities, Farrell explained his concerns about the transition away from childhood support systems.

He said: "Once your child turns 21, they're kind of on their own."

Farrell continued: "All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes, that all goes away, so you're left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind."

The actor also expressed his hopes for how James would be treated as he grew older.

He said: "I want the world to be kind to James. I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect."

The documentary also follows Fogarty, who lives with epidermolysis bullosa, a rare condition that causes the skin to become extremely fragile and vulnerable to blistering.

Her friendship with Farrell and their marathon preparations form another central part of the film, which examines the physical and emotional demands of their challenge.

Farrell is also known for his performances in In Bruges, The Banshees of Inisherin and The Batman, as well as his Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Oswald Cobb in HBO's The Penguin.

He received an Academy Award nomination for The Banshees of Inisherin, which reunited him with filmmaker Martin McDonagh.

The actor also has a younger son, Henry, 17, with his former partner, actress Alicja Bachleda-Curuś.