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Murdoch's Tabloid Rise: Venice Film Fest Opener
16 Jul
Summary
- Danny Boyle's drama 'Ink' opens the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 2.
- Guy Pearce portrays Rupert Murdoch in the biographical drama.
- The film explores Murdoch's launch of The Sun tabloid in 1969.
The 83rd Venice Film Festival will open with the world premiere of Danny Boyle's "Ink" on September 2, 2026. This biographical drama, penned by playwright James Graham, charts the rise of media mogul Rupert Murdoch within the U.K. tabloid landscape.
Guy Pearce takes on the role of Murdoch, with Jack O'Connell portraying Larry Lamb, who was hired to transform Murdoch's new British tabloid, The Sun. Set in 1969, the film dramatizes the launch of The Sun, which became the world's best-selling newspaper and a new force in media.
Director Danny Boyle expressed his honor at opening the festival, calling it his "baptism at the film festival." He highlighted how "Ink" depicts the creation of a daring and irreverent tabloid that challenged the establishment and set a new template for the modern media era, predating digital platforms.
The festival's artistic director, Alberto Barberan, lauded the collaboration of an Oscar-winning director, a prominent playwright, and acclaimed actors. Studiocanal is handling worldwide sales and theatrical releases in multiple territories, including the U.K. and Australia. The full Venice lineup will be announced on July 23, 2026.
