Brief
Danny Boyle says financing his Rupert Murdoch‑Larry Lamb film was a struggle
Boyle explained at a BFI London Film Festival forum that studios were hesitant to back the project and that AI was used sparingly.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Director Danny Boyle told a BFI London Film Festival industry forum that raising finance for his upcoming film about Rupert Murdoch and Larry Lamb’s 1969 partnership was "very difficult to raise the money" (standard.co.uk). He said StudioCanal eventually provided funding but not enough, and later partnered with Netflix for U.S. distribution.
What happened
Boyle, 69, discussed the film starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, which adapts James Graham’s stage play on the rise of The Sun. He noted that StudioCanal’s involvement was crucial, yet the budget fell short, prompting a Netflix deal for the American market.
What the reports add
Boyle suggested that studios may have been reluctant because the story originated from a stage play, a format he believes is often dismissed for film adaptation. He also addressed the role of artificial intelligence, saying it is "a part of the toolbox that the visual effects companies use now" and that his team used it "very sparingly" to avoid replacing people.
What was said
"We managed to get the money off StudioCanal but they didn’t give us enough money. They were brave. Whereas a lot of people wouldn’t give us the money," Boyle told podcast host Matt Belloni (standard.co.uk). He added, "We used it very sparingly and we were very careful to make sure we didn’t replace anyone," referring to AI usage.
How it came about
The project stems from James Graham’s play about the Murdoch‑Lamb partnership that launched The Sun. Boyle’s comments follow earlier Felo coverage of film financing challenges, such as the AI‑animated shorts announced at TIFF (see Massive Studios and CapCut AI shorts).
Key facts
- Danny Boyle said financing the Murdoch‑Lamb film was very difficult. (standard.co.uk)
- StudioCanal provided some funding but not enough, leading to a Netflix partnership for U.S. distribution. (standard.co.uk)
- Boyle used AI sparingly in the film, including to superimpose Margaret Thatcher's face. (standard.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] standard.co.uk — originally reported as “Danny Boyle says he struggled to fund film about Rupert Murdoch and Larry Lamb”
