Danny Boyle's film 'Ink' dramatizes Rupert Murdoch's 1969 transformation of The Sun
Danny Boyle's adaptation of James Graham's play 'Ink' follows Rupert Murdoch's recruitment of editor Larry Lamb to turn The Sun into a tabloid, highlighting the rise of sensationalist journalism.
Danny Boyle’s new film "Ink," based on James Graham’s stage play, recounts Rupert Murdoch’s 1969 acquisition of the British newspaper The Sun and his enlistment of Yorkshire editor Larry Lamb to convert the broadsheet into a tabloid. The story follows Lamb’s aggressive overhaul, the hiring of former Mirror staff, and the paper’s rapid climb to become Britain’s highest-circulation daily.
Guy Pearce portrays Murdoch, delivering a confident, often humorous performance, while Jack O’Connell plays Lamb, evolving from cautious newcomer to a ruthless editor. Claire Foy appears as journalist Jules, who joins the Sun after being offered a dedicated women’s column.
"We’re going to make The Sun the biggest paper in the country," Murdoch tells Lamb in an opening lunch scene, outlining a lucrative salary and a company car.
The film uses fast-paced montages and a soundtrack of post-punk and indie rock to underscore the era’s shift toward sensational news, drawing a line to today’s click-bait media environment. While the narrative presents Murdoch as a shrewd businessman, it emphasizes Lamb’s growing autonomy and the ethical compromises made to boost sales.
"Ink" premieres in U.S. theatres on December 11 and will stream on Netflix beginning January 8.