Danny Boyle’s Ink is heading to U.S. theaters this December, with Netflix confirming a limited theatrical release ahead of its streaming debut. The film will open in select U.S. cinemas on December 11, 2026, before arriving on Netflix in the U.S. and Latin America on January 8, 2027. Netflix has also unveiled a first-look image of Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch, offering the first official glimpse of the actor in the role.
Set in 1969, Ink focuses on the early stages of Murdoch’s expansion into the British newspaper business and his efforts to transform The Sun into a major tabloid. Rather than attempting to cover Murdoch’s entire life and career, the film concentrates on a pivotal period in which his ambitions and decisions helped reshape the British newspaper landscape.
A key part of the story is Murdoch’s relationship with newspaper editor Larry Lamb, who played an important role in the development of the new Sun. The film therefore approaches the transformation of the newspaper from both sides, examining the businessman behind the expansion and the editorial team involved in creating a different kind of tabloid.
Pearce takes on the younger Murdoch at a point before he became the global media figure recognised around the world. Known for films including Memento, L.A. Confidential and The Brutalist, Pearce’s casting places an established actor at the centre of a story about a much earlier chapter of Murdoch’s career. The newly released first-look image provides the first official look at his transformation for the role.
Jack O’Connell stars opposite Pearce as Larry Lamb. His character is central to the film’s exploration of how The Sun was developed and positioned as a new kind of tabloid. Claire Foy also stars as Jules Davies, a fictional character connected to the newspaper and Lamb’s story.
Behind the camera, Ink brings together Boyle and writer James Graham. Boyle, whose filmography includes Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire and Steve Jobs, directs the film, while Graham adapted his own Tony-nominated stage play for the screen. The filmmaker also reunites with producer Tessa Ross on the project. Graham’s original play explored the people and ideas surrounding the creation of The Sun, providing the foundation for the film adaptation.
Before reaching U.S. theaters, Ink will make its world premiere at the 83rd Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2026, where it has been selected as the opening film. Netflix acquired the film’s U.S. and Latin American rights following its Venice selection.
The release strategy gives Ink a three-stage path to audiences: its Venice premiere in September, a limited theatrical run in the United States beginning in December, and its Netflix launch the following month. The theatrical window will give the film an opportunity to play on the big screen before its wider streaming release.
The film’s subject also gives Boyle an opportunity to explore a significant period in British media history. Murdoch’s entry into the British newspaper market and the transformation of The Sun became an important chapter in the development of the country’s tabloid press, while the relationship between Murdoch and Lamb provides the film with a more focused narrative than a conventional career-spanning biopic.
With Boyle directing, Pearce portraying Murdoch and O’Connell playing Lamb, Ink brings together a major filmmaker, an established cast and a story centred on the intersection of journalism, business ambition and the changing influence of the press. Its Venice premiere will provide the first major indication of how Boyle and Graham have translated the stage material into a feature film before Ink reaches U.S. theaters in December.
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