Danny Boyle's 'Ink' to open 2026 Venice Film Festival
Los Angeles, July 17
Filmmaker Danny Boyle's upcoming drama 'Ink', based on media mogul Rupert Murdoch's rise to power, will open the 2026 Venice Film Festival with its world premiere in competition on September 2, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film stars Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch, Jack O'Connell as Larry Lamb and Claire Foy as Jules Davies.
Adapted for the screen by playwright James Graham from his Tony-nominated play of the same name, 'Ink' is set in 1969 and chronicles Murdoch's acquisition of 'The Sun' newspaper and his partnership with editor Larry Lamb, who transformed the publication into one of Britain's most influential tabloids.
The film marks Boyle's first appearance at the Venice Film Festival.
"This is my baptism at the film festival," Boyle said, as stated by the outlet.
Calling the opening slot "a huge honour," the Oscar-winning filmmaker added, "It is a huge honour to be in a city of such extraordinary art and opening this great festival with my new film."
Reflecting on the story explored in the film, Boyle said, "Long before Fox News, click bait, and Truth Social; decades before Twitter, Facebook, Google & Only Fans, these 2 men created a new tabloid which against all the odds became the biggest selling newspaper in the world."
"Cheeky, irreverent, daring: The super soaraway Sun challenged the establishment and remade our world for the modern era," he added.
Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera praised the project, describing it as the coming together of "an Oscar-winning director, one of the leading playwrights on the London theater scene, and three of the most acclaimed actors in contemporary British cinema," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Boyle produced the film alongside Tessa Ross, his collaborator on the Oscar-winning 'Slumdog Millionaire', and Tracey Seaward. The film is backed by Studiocanal, Media Res and House Productions.
The 2026 Venice Film Festival will run from September 2 to 12, with the full festival line-up scheduled to be announced on July 23, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting to see Boyle tackle such a politically charged subject. I wonder if he'll explore Murdoch's global influence, including how his media empire has affected news consumption in countries like India. The tabloid culture here is very different, but the power dynamics are similar.
As someone who grew up reading 'The Sun' during visits to the UK, this sounds fascinating! But I hope Boyle doesn't glorify Murdoch – we in India know all too well how media owners can push agendas. The line between journalism and propaganda is thin everywhere. Good casting with Claire Foy though! 🎬
Exciting news for Venice! Boyle is a master storyteller, and the '60s British media scene is ripe for drama. I'm a bit skeptical about another celeb biopic, but the competition slot suggests it has substance. Hope it lives up to the hype.
It's ironic that Boyle, who made Slumdog Millionaire – a film that sparked debates in India about poverty tourism – is now making a film about media manipulation. Full circle, I guess. The tabloid revolution he describes mirrors what we've seen with digital news in India. Let's see if it's critical or celebratory.
I'm always wary of films that might whitewash Murdoch's legacy, but Boyle's track record suggests he'll find nuance. The 1969 setting is key – that era transformed global media. For Indian audiences, it's a reminder of how Western media set templates that our own news channels later adopted.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.