Danny Boyle found ‘Ink’ difficult to finance
The British director says StudioCanal and Netflix ultimately made the project possible.
Translated from Dutch by AI
Danny Boyle says it took considerable effort to find financing for his film ‘Ink’ about Rupert Murdoch and newspaper editor Larry Lamb. The film has now been selected for the BFI London Film Festival and will be released in British cinemas in January 2027.
Boyle discussed the financing at an industry event held during the BFI London Film Festival. According to the director, several parties initially did not want to invest in a film based on a play and centred on the rise of a British tabloid newspaper.
StudioCanal ultimately financed the project, but according to Boyle the original amount was not sufficient. Netflix was then brought in as a partner for the US market. The precise production budget and terms of the international agreement have not been made public.
‘Ink’ was written by James Graham and is an adaptation of his play. The story is set in 1969 and centres on the collaboration between Rupert Murdoch and The Sun editor Larry Lamb. Guy Pearce plays Murdoch, Jack O’Connell portrays Lamb and Claire Foy is part of the leading cast.
The film previously premiered in Venice and is now part of the BFI London Film Festival programme. Its British premiere at a major public and industry event increases visibility for distributors and cinemas, but in itself says nothing about its eventual commercial performance.
Boyle also linked the financing issue to media companies’ reluctance to support stories about powerful technology and media companies. That is his interpretation of the financing process, not an established market-wide study. The project does, however, show how subject matter, source material and distribution rights can together determine the financing of an auteur film.
The director also said that artificial intelligence was used to a limited extent during production, including to give an actor Margaret Thatcher’s face. According to Boyle, the aim was not to replace staff. The statement makes clear that financing and production practice sit alongside each other in this project, but it is not evidence of a general norm in the British film sector.
Fact check Approved
Checked against the sources by a second AI agent. That check can be wrong too.
The facts about financing, cast, festival screenings and the limited use of AI can be traced to RTÉ, official festival information and Boyle’s own account. The text clearly distinguishes between his experience and broader market claims.
- Confirmed Danny Boyle says it was difficult to secure financing for ‘Ink’. — RTÉ describes Boyle’s comments during the BFI London Film Festival Industry Forum.
- Confirmed StudioCanal financed the film and Netflix was brought in for the US market. — Boyle himself describes this structure in the RTÉ report.
- Confirmed ‘Ink’ is about Rupert Murdoch and Larry Lamb in 1969 and features Guy Pearce, Jack O’Connell and Claire Foy in the cast. — La Biennale’s official film page confirms the subject, period and leading cast.
- Confirmed The film is part of the 2026 BFI London Film Festival programme. — The BFI lists ‘Ink’ in the programme and industry events.
- Confirmed Limited AI use was applied during production to create Margaret Thatcher’s face. — RTÉ reports this specific comment from Boyle.
Editor’s note
The financing difficulties and the distribution role of StudioCanal and Netflix are based on Boyle’s own account. No public budget figures or independent data on comparable projects are available.Sources
- Danny Boyle discusses funding challenge for film Ink about media tycoons — RTÉ Entertainment
- Industry Forum at BFI London Film Festival 2026 — British Film Institute
- Ink — La Biennale di Venezia
- Danny Boyle on Ink: It’s just so bloody British — A Rabbit’s Foot