Danny Boyle's 'Ink' Opens Venice Film Festival, Exploring Murdoch's Tabloid Revolution

Danny Boyle's film 'Ink' opened the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, delving into the 1969 acquisition of the British newspaper The Sun by Rupert Murdoch and its transformation under editor Larry Lamb. The film, based on James Graham's play, stars Guy Pearce as Murdoch and Jack O'Connell as Lamb, with Claire Foy also featured. Boyle uses the story to examine the origins of modern media dynamics, arguing that The Sun's success in giving readers what they wanted foreshadowed today's social media and big tech dominance. The film portrays Murdoch not as a monster but as an outsider challenging a snobbish British establishment, embodied by the rival Daily Mirror. Boyle warns of 'dangerous times' with social media, big tech, and AI, emphasizing the continued need for journalists to act as guardians against power. 'Ink' highlights the commercial revolution of The Sun, which surpassed 2.5 million copies sold, and its cultural impact, including the infamous Page 3. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2026, with Boyle present to discuss its contemporary relevance.