Danny Boyle's 'Ink' to open 83rd Venice Film Festival
Danny Boyle's "Ink," starring Jack O'Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, will open the 83rd Venice Film Festival, which runs Sept. 2-12, with a world premiere in competition. The Studiocanal-backed drama about Rupert Murdoch's takeover of The Sun marks a high-profile launch for the Lido.
Key Takeaways
- Danny Boyle's "Ink" opens the 83rd Venice Film Festival (Sept. 2-12) with a competition world premiere.
- The cast is led by Jack O'Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy.
- Venice chief Alberto Barbera framed the film as the story of Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of The Sun and editor Larry Lamb's tabloid push.
- Studiocanal, Media Res and House Productions are behind the film, with theatrical plans across multiple Studiocanal territories.
- Follow more premiere and platform alerts in our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
What is Danny Boyle's "Ink" opening at Venice?
According to Variety, Boyle's "Ink" has been selected to open Venice's 83rd edition. The festival runs Sept. 2-12, and the film will world premiere in the competition section.
That opening slot puts a major British director and a UK media story at the center of the Lido's first night. For festival audiences and awards watchers, it is an early signal of how Venice wants to frame this year's slate.
Who stars in "Ink," and what is the film about?
The film stars Jack O'Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy. Venice chief Alberto Barbera described the project as an account of publisher Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of the daily newspaper The Sun.
Barbera said Murdoch entrusted the paper to "the unscrupulous Larry Lamb," turning it into Britain's best-selling tabloid at the expense of rival The Mirror. He also pointed to the film's credentials: an Oscar-winning director, one of the leading playwrights on the London theater scene, and three of the most acclaimed actors in contemporary British cinema.
Those comments, reported by Variety, position "Ink" as both a star-driven drama and a pointed look at how British tabloid culture was reshaped.
Who is producing "Ink," and where will it be released?
Variety reports that "Ink" is produced by Studiocanal, Media Res and House Productions. Boyle produces with Tessa Ross and Michael Ellenberg, reuniting with Ross after "Slumdog Millionaire." Tracey Seaward also produces.
Executive producers include Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern and Joe Naftalin of Studiocanal, plus Tonia Davis, Zoe Edwards, James Graham and Sudie Smyth. Studiocanal will release the film theatrically in Italy, the U.K., France, Germany, Poland, Benelux, Australia and New Zealand, with Lucky Red handling Italy.
No U.S. streaming window was detailed in the Variety report. Until distribution beyond Studiocanal territories is clear, the Venice bow is the main confirmed next step for viewers tracking the title.
Why does a Venice opening matter for this cast and crew?
Opening Venice brings global press focus before a wider theatrical rollout. For Boyle, O'Connell, Pearce and Foy, a competition premiere on the Lido is a prestige launch that can shape reviews, sales conversations and awards chatter.
It also puts a British media origin story in front of an international festival audience. As more festival and TV premiere news breaks, BlasterPost will keep tracking it under Streaming & TV Alerts.