Rupert Murdoch is reportedly "very happy" that Guy Pearce is portraying him in Danny Boyle's new film "Ink", which opened the Venice Film Festival and is competing for the Golden Lion. Pearce revealed at the film's press conference that although he hadn't spoken to Murdoch directly, the media mogul's daughter, Elisabeth Murdoch, passed on her father's approval of the casting before he had even seen the finished film.

"Ink" is based on James Graham's Tony-winning play and dramatises Murdoch's 1969 acquisition of the Sun and his appointment of Larry Lamb (Jack O'Connell) as editor tasked with overtaking the rival Daily Mirror. Graham noted that Murdoch had seen the stage version twice and seemed likely to be "flattered" by the casting, while Boyle said the film explores a "darkness" in both Murdoch and Lamb more overtly than the play did. Netflix has acquired US and Latin American rights, while Studiocanal is handling theatrical release across the UK and other territories; the film marks Boyle's first appearance at Venice and reunites him with producer Tessa Ross following "Slumdog Millionaire".