Rupert Murdoch is apparently “very happy” that he’s being played by Guy Pearce in Danny Boyle’s “Ink.”
During the movie’s press conference at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, Pearce was asked along with Boyle and screenwriter James Graham if they had spoken to Murdoch about the film. Though Pearce said he hadn’t made contact with the mogul himself, he revealed that he reached out to Murdoch’s daughter, Elisabeth Murdoch.
“She did say to me, ‘Dad’s very happy that you’re playing him,’” Pearce said. “But he hadn’t seen the film at that point, so we’ll see.”
“Ink,” which opens the 83rd Venice Film Festival on Wednesday night and is competing for the Golden Lion, takes place in 1969 as Murdoch acquires the struggling Sun and installs Lamb (Jack O’Connell) as editor with the mission of overtaking its dominant rival, the Daily Mirror.
Graham, who also wrote the Tony-winning play on which the movie is based, said that Murdoch is familiar with the story as he came to see the play twice, both on the West End and Broadway.
“I remember he was very good at sort of not really giving anything away,” Graham said of Murdoch’s reaction. However, he remembers him enjoying a particular sequence that showed the printing press and “the dirt and the steam and the filth that used to go into making a paper on a daily basis.”
Graham added, “I think he’ll be very flattered by the casting.”
“Ink” marks Boyle’s first appearance at the Venice Film Festival. The Oscar-winning director arrives on the Lido following his return to the zombie franchise he helped create with “28 Years Later.” His credits also include “Trainspotting,” “127 Hours,” “Steve Jobs” and “Slumdog Millionaire,” which won eight Oscars, including best picture and best director.
Netflix acquired U.S. and Latin American rights to “Ink” shortly after it was announced as Venice’s opening film. Studiocanal, which produced the movie with Media Res and House Productions, is releasing it theatrically across several territories including the U.K., France, Germany and Italy.
Boyle produced “Ink” with Tessa Ross, Michael Ellenberg and Tracey Seaward. The film reunites Boyle and Ross after their collaboration on “Slumdog Millionaire.”
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