Danny Boyle is heading back to the big screen with a story as wild as anything in his filmography — the birth of Britain’s tabloid newspaper wars. And he’s bringing some serious acting muscle with him: Guy Pearce and Jack O’Connell are both in talks to star in ‘Ink.’
Pearce, the Oscar-nominated star of ‘Memento’ and ‘L.A. Confidential,’ is circling the role of none other than Rupert Murdoch, the ruthless media mogul who would go on to build a global empire. O’Connell (Unbroken, ‘’71) is eyeing the role of Larry Lamb, the hungry young editor Murdoch hired in 1969 to take over The Sun after he bought the struggling paper. Together, they’d spark a newspaper revolution — and a fierce rivalry with The Mirror — that would reshape British media forever.
Based on James Graham’s hit play, ‘Ink’ is described as a “cinematic rollercoaster” about visionaries, misfits, and the messy business of giving the people what they want. Boyle, never one to shy away from high-octane storytelling (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire), feels like the perfect match for this cutthroat tale of ambition, risk, and power plays.
Also in news – Netflix renews Dept. Q for season 2: Matthew Goode returns in Edinburgh-set crime thriller
Graham has adapted his own stage play for the screen, with production set to roll cameras this October. Behind the scenes, Boyle is producing alongside Tessa Ross (reuniting after Slumdog Millionaire), Michael Ellenberg, Tracey Seaward, and Tonia Davis.
With Murdoch’s legacy still making headlines today, and a script rooted in one of the most pivotal moments in media history, ‘Ink’ is shaping up to be as gripping and provocative as the front pages it’s about.
