After the global success of 28 Years Later, director Danny Boyle is showing no signs of slowing down, with a new movie on the horizon. 28 Years Later marked the third installment in the franchise and Boyle’s long-awaited return to the post-apocalyptic genre he helped define. The film received positive reviews and grossed $150 million worldwide.

Critics praised the intense pacing, atmospheric dread, and 28 Years Later‘s cast — especially Jack O’Connell’s performance as Sir Jimmy Crystal — with Boyle gearing up for another sequel in 2026. For Boyle, 28 Years Later‘s success reaffirmed his reputation as one of the most versatile directors, capable of dramatic genre shifts. Now, the Oscar-winning filmmaker is pivoting once more.

According to a report by ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, 28 Years Later‘s Jack O’Connell may reunite with Boyle for his new movie, Ink. The upcoming film will adapt James Graham’s acclaimed stage play, which focuses on media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s rise in the U.K. newspaper scene through The Sun‘s transformation, and his partnership with editor Larry Lamb.

According to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline‘s sources, Boyle’s top choices, Guy Pearce and O’Connell, are currently in talks to play Murdoch and Larry Lamb. Ink — which has been adapted into a screenplay by original writer Graham — will be produced by director Danny Boyle, Tessa Ross (Slumdog Millionaire), and Michael Ellenberg (Prometheus). Ink is reportedly set to shoot in October 2025.

What This Casting Update Means For Danny Boyle’s Ink

Ink marks a return to the kind of character-driven, socially charged storytelling that defines some of Danny Boyle’s best work. While it lacks the overt action or horror elements of 28 Days Later or Trainspotting, Ink offers a different high-stakes narrative that will explore ambition, power, and media ethics in the world of newsrooms, backroom deals, and public manipulation.

Pearce’s recent awards momentum for The Brutalist makes Ink a strategically sharp casting decision, as he would bring credibility to the Rupert Murdoch role. Likewise, O’Connell’s growing profile as an intense, grounded performer makes him a natural fit for a figure like Larry Lamb, as a man caught between journalistic tradition and the disruptive tactics of Murdoch’s empire.

Our Take On Danny Boyle’s New Movie

There have already been a few adaptations of Murdoch’s story, with things like Succession being heavily inspired by the Murdoch family. However, none have truly touched upon his rise in the U.K. tabloids the way Graham’s narrative does. With a knack for humanizing larger-than-life figures in movies like Slumdog Millionaire and Steve Jobs, I can’t think of anyone better to direct Ink.

As a well-known and acclaimed actor, Pearce would bring the perfect gravitas to the role of Rupert Murdoch. Similarly, Jack O’Connell has dominated horror movies this year, showcasing his acting prowess. With three significant names potentially on board and a 28 Years Later reunion, Ink is gearing up for success, especially considering today’s issues, making Murdoch’s story timely and culturally potent.