Rupert Murdoch is reportedly quite pleased with Australian actor Guy Pearce’s portrayal of him in an upcoming film, as Pearce shared during the Venice Film Festival. The film, titled “Ink,” explores the media mogul’s entry into the British media landscape and serves as the festival’s main attraction this year.
Director Danny Boyle has indicated that the film presents a more favorable perspective on Murdoch’s views regarding British society. Pearce, who gained fame for his role in “LA Confidential” and more recently in “The Brutalist,” was chosen by the Oscar-winning director to depict Murdoch during his formative years in business.
“I communicated with Elisabeth, one of Murdoch’s daughters, and she mentioned that ‘Dad is very happy you’re taking on this role,’” Pearce told journalists at the festival, where “Ink” is featured as the opening film. “However, he hadn’t seen the movie yet, so we will have to wait and see,” he added.
The hit HBO series “Succession” drew inspiration from the Murdoch family, with its portrayal of the callous patriarch Logan Roy offering a starkly negative image of the billionaire. Despite his own leftist views, Boyle clarified that his intention was not to create a disparaging film about the 95-year-old Murdoch.
Murdoch’s right-leaning media empire continues to wield significant political influence in Britain, the United States, and Australia, endorsing numerous conservative politicians and their initiatives. “Ink” centers on Murdoch’s arrival in the UK during the late 1960s, detailing his acquisition of the struggling tabloid “The Sun” and its subsequent transformation into a successful publication known for its sensational content.
The film is based on a play by British playwright James Graham, which enjoyed runs in both the West End and Broadway from 2017 to 2019. Boyle remarked, “The stage adaptation does not vilify Rupert Murdoch, which is a common tendency today. At that time, he represented a refreshing change in a rather rigid British society and faced considerable bias as an Australian, something I can empathize with.”
He also noted Murdoch’s disdain for the British establishment, a sentiment he personally shares. “Ink” focuses on the dynamic between Murdoch and his first editor at “The Sun,” Larry Lamb, who is portrayed as the film’s central character.
Murdoch’s life, business ventures, and complex relationships with his six children have become a rich source for authors and filmmakers alike. Besides “Succession,” the media tycoon has been the subject of numerous biographies and a recent Netflix documentary titled “Dynasty: The Murdochs,” released in March, which examined his struggle to appoint his eldest son, Lachlan, as his successor within his vast empire, which includes Fox News, “The Wall Street Journal,” “The Sun,” and HarperCollins.
This ongoing saga culminated in a multi-billion-dollar legal settlement that revealed some of the family’s secrets to the public. Over the decades, Murdoch has significantly influenced tabloid journalism, cable television, and satellite broadcasting, while facing criticism for allegedly fueling nationalist populism within the English-speaking world. His media outlets have also been linked to Britain’s exit from the European Union and the rise of Donald Trump, and have long maintained a pro-business stance while expressing skepticism about climate change.
