La Biennale di Venezia is pleased to announce that “Ink,” directed by the Academy and BAFTA award winning Danny Boyle (“28 Years Later,” “Trainspotting,” “Slumdog Millionaire”), written by multi-Olivier award-winning playwright and screenwriter James Graham (“Dear England,” “Sherwood,” “Brexit”), and starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, is the opening film, in a world premiere in competition, of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival directed by Alberto Barbera (September 2 – 12, 2026).
“Ink” will have its world premiere screening on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema (Lido di Venezia) on the opening night of the 83rd Biennale Cinema.
Danny Boyle stated: “I’ve been to the Biennale many times, but this is my baptism at the film festival – a huge honor to be in a city of such extraordinary art and opening this great festival with my new film “Ink.” 1969 – the year we first walked on the moon – and the year Rupert Murdoch & Larry Lamb launched a newspaper that was to change the world far more. Long before Fox News, clickbait, and Truth Social, decades before Twitter, Facebook, Google, and OnlyFans, these 2 men created a new tabloid that, against all odds, became the biggest-selling newspaper in the world. Cheeky, Irreverent, daring: The super soaraway Sun challenged the establishment and remade our world for the modern era. A script by James Graham I felt compelled and privileged to make.”
“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—these are the credentials behind Danny Boyle’s film” – stated Alberto Barbera – enhanced by the performances of Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce, and Claire Foy, which screenwriter James Graham adapted from his own play of the same name. It is an account of publisher Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the daily newspaper The Sun, which he entrusted to the unscrupulous Larry Lamb, turning it into Britain’s best-selling tabloid at the expense of its rival, The Mirror. I want to thank StudioCanal, Media Res, and House Productions for granting us the honor of opening the Venice Film Festival with such a highly anticipated film.”
“Ink” is a STUDIOCANAL, MEDIA RES, and House Productions film.
Academy and BAFTA award-winning Danny Boyle (“28 Days Later,” “Trainspotting,” “Slumdog Millionaire”) directs “Ink,” which is based on the Tony-nominated play by multi-Olivier award-winning playwright and screenwriter James Graham (“Dear England,” “Sherwood,” “Brexit”). Graham has written the screenplay.
BAFTA winner Jack O’Connell (“Starred Up,” “71,” “Back to Black,” “Sinners“), Academy Award nominated Guy Pearce (“Memento,” “The Brutalist,” “LA Confidential”) and BAFTA nominated Claire Foy (“The Crown,” “All of Us Strangers,” “The Electrical life of Louis Wain“) star in “Ink,” an explosive cinematic rollercoaster about a group of visionaries and misfits who had an idea for a new kind of news – one that would give the people what they want and would change the face of the world we live in today.
O’Connell stars as THE SUN editor Larry Lamb with Pearce as Rupert Murdoch. Claire Foy is Jules Davies.
Danny Boyle produces with Tessa Ross (“Conclave,” “The Iron Claw,” “The Zone of Interest“) and Michael Ellenberg (“The Morning Show,” “Pachinko”). “Ink” reunites Boyle and Ross following their collaboration on “Slumdog Millionaire.” Tracey Seaward (“The Two Popes,” “Philomena,” “Pistol”) also produces. Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern, Joe Naftalin (of STUDIOCANAL), Tonia Davis, Zoe Edwards, James Graham, and Sudie Smyth (of STUDIOCANAL) are EPs.
MEDIA RES optioned James Graham’s play of the same name, directed by Rupert Goold.
STUDIOCANAL fully financed the film. STUDIOCANAL will release “Ink” theatrically in their territories of Italy, the UK, France, Germany, and Poland. Benelux, Australia, and NZ. “Ink” will be released in Italy – in cinemas – by Lucky Red.
Alwin H. Küchler (“Steve Jobs”) is DOP, Gareth Pugh & Carson McColl (“28 Years Later“) are Production & Costume Designers, Fin Oates (“How to Have Sex,” “Warfare“) is Editor, Gail Stevens & Rebecca Farhall (“28 Years Later“) cast the film, music by Daniel Pemberton.
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival will run from September 2nd-12th with Ema Sasic and Josh Parham attending on behalf of Next Best Picture this year in-person.
Are you excited for the 2026 Venice Film Festival? Are you planning to attend the festival this year? Which films do you think will be announced for this year’s lineup? Please let us know in the comments section below or on our Twitter account.
