Guy Pearce is set to play Rupert Murdoch in Ink, a new biographical film directed by Danny Boyle that premiered at the Venice film festival. The film examines Murdoch’s early years in Britain, specifically focusing on his 1969 acquisition and transformation of the struggling Sun newspaper.
Pearce revealed that he had been in contact with Elisabeth Murdoch, the media tycoon’s daughter, who conveyed that her father was pleased with the casting choice. However, Pearce noted that Murdoch had not yet viewed the completed film at the time of their communication. The actor drew on his extensive career, which includes a breakout role in 1994’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, to take on the prominent role.
The film is based on a script by playwright James Graham, who also noted that Murdoch attended stage productions of the same material in London’s West End and on Broadway. Graham recounted that while Murdoch remained guarded in his reactions, he showed particular enthusiasm for sequences depicting the mechanical and physical processes involved in newspaper production. Boyle characterized Murdoch’s role at the time as representing innovation within a rigid British society, emphasizing that the tycoon faced prejudice as an Australian outsider challenging the country’s establishment institutions.
Graham indicated his interest in exploring how the Sun’s disruption of traditional journalism influenced contemporary media practices. He highlighted the contrast between the BBC’s educational model and the Sun’s entertainment-focused approach, noting that the philosophical foundations established during this period continue to shape current discourse through social media and artificial intelligence platforms.
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