Danny Boyle reveals 'siege mentality' behind Ink after funding struggle
Danny Boyle has described a "siege mentality" behind his new film Ink after a long struggle to finance it.
He spoke about making the film at Deadline's Contenders London event, as reported by Deadline on 10 October 2026. He was joined on stage by writer James Graham and actor Jack O'Connell. The appearance brought director, writer and star together in front of an industry audience to trace how Ink moved from stage idea to finished film.
Money was the obstacle. Boyle said the small filmmaking team felt under siege while trying to keep the project alive. He used the phrase to capture the mood of a tight group defending a project that others passed on. Financing proved difficult to secure until Studiocanal stepped in to back it.
Studiocanal then partnered with Netflix on the release. That joint backing gave the production its route to audiences. The deal paired a long-established studio-distributor, which handles cinema releases, with a global streaming service.
Ink is set in 1969. It centres on Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of The Sun, his purchase of the newspaper, and his partnership with editor Larry Lamb. Lamb ran the newsroom day to day. Murdoch owned the title. Together they rebuilt the paper for a new readership.
The film traces the rise of The Sun under those two media executives, as noted by the Evening Standard. It presents Murdoch as a rising media owner seeking a foothold in British popular journalism. Lamb is the editor charged with making the change work on the page.
Boyle directs from a screenplay by Graham. The script is based on Graham's own stage play Ink, which earned a Tony nomination. The Tonys are the leading awards for theatre in the United States, so the nomination signals a profile in New York.
Jack O'Connell stars as Lamb. Guy Pearce plays Murdoch. Claire Foy plays Jules Davies, completing the central trio. O'Connell takes the newsroom role. Pearce takes the ownership role.
Boyle also produces Ink alongside Tessa Ross. A producer oversees the film from development through delivery, hiring key staff and securing money. Ink was then selected as the opener of the Venice Film Festival, the slot reserved for the film that plays on opening night.
What makes this stand out is the distance travelled. A stage play about a newsroom became a festival opener. A team with little early support held together. A shared release deal carried it over the line.
