The film ‘Ink’, directed by Danny Boyle and adapted from James Graham’s stage play, held its United Kingdom premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. The production features Jack O’Connell in the role of Larry Lamb and Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch, arriving at the festival approximately one month following its initial screening at the Venice Film Festival.
The narrative centers on Murdoch’s acquisition of the struggling tabloid The Sun during 1969 and his hiring of Lamb as editor. Together, the two figures combined right-leaning political coverage with populist appeal to transform the publication into a significant force within British media. The film explores how Murdoch subsequently applied strategies developed through this venture to establish his media presence in the United States, including operations such as The New York Post and Fox News.
O’Connell expressed confidence about the film’s reception among British audiences, characterizing it as fundamentally a London-based production. Regarding his portrayal of Lamb, the actor stated he viewed the character as driven by ambition rather than inherent malice, describing him as someone whose pursuit of newspaper success led him to cross ethical boundaries. Pearce indicated openness to meeting with Murdoch following the film’s release, noting that Murdoch’s daughter had conveyed her father’s approval of the casting choice.
Boyle contextualized the film within contemporary media culture, framing it as an origin story for sensationalism and attention-driven economics. He suggested the film demonstrates either the introduction or cultivation of tendencies that now permeate modern information consumption. Playwright Graham similarly positioned ‘Ink’ as an examination of disruption and innovation, comparing the newspaper’s transformation to current technological disruption in Silicon Valley and other sectors. The festival runs through mid-October and features additional notable releases alongside ‘Ink’.
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