Danny Boyle on using AI for Thatcher's face in 'Ink' and on AI's threat to journalism
At the BFI London Film Festival, director Danny Boyle said his film 'Ink' used AI to put Margaret Thatcher's face on an actor, without asking her estate. He also warned that AI is replacing journalism.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Danny Boyle, director and producer of 'Ink', discussed the film at the 70th BFI London Film Festival. The Hollywood ReporterLC “discussed his latest film, Ink, which traces Rupert Murdoch‘s rise on Fleet Street and takeover of the tabloid The Sun” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Evening StandardN “speaking to the Press Association ahead of its screening at the BFI London Film Festival” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1'Ink' is based on James Graham's play about Rupert Murdoch buying The Sun and remaking it as a tabloid. It also follows his relationship with Larry Lamb, the former northern editor of the Daily Mail whom he poached to edit the paper. It stars Jack O'Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy and is set in the 1960s. Evening StandardN “Ink, starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, is based on the James Graham play about media mogul Rupert Murdoch” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1According to The Hollywood Reporter, Boyle said the production used AI to recreate the face of the late prime minister Margaret Thatcher. An impersonator played the whole scene and AI then put Thatcher's face on her. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Of course, we got an impersonator in to play the whole scene” and then used AI to put Thatcher’s face on her.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 1Boyle said he wanted Thatcher herself rather than an imitator, because the film shows her visiting Lamb's office late at night to drink whiskey after the edition had gone out. The Hollywood ReporterLC “I didn’t want an impersonator. I wanted her to be it.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1He said he did not ask her estate for permission. In his view, estates of people like Thatcher should not control artists' ability to explore her influence on people's lives. The Hollywood ReporterLC “I declined to ask the estate for permission to do that.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1Boyle called AI part of the visual-effects toolbox. He said it was used sparingly on 'Ink' and that care was taken to make sure it did not replace anyone. The Hollywood ReporterLC “we used it very sparingly [in Ink], and we were very careful to make sure it didn’t replace anyone.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Centre · 1Speaking to the Press Association, Boyle said the film raises 'terrifying' concerns about AI. He said journalism is 'being easily replaced by AI', and that the story shows 'the danger journalism is in now'. Evening StandardN “It’s being easily replaced by AI, and that is terrifying.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1At the festival event, Boyle also worried that if newspapers disappear and screens become the only portals, power would sit with the tech giants that control the platforms. He said that would leave journalists unable to hold truth to power. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Will those journalists be allowed to hold truth to power” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1He said the film reads as a contemporary story about the attention economy and clickbait, and that people are 'siloed by tech'. O'Connell called the events a 'tipping point' that changed how people get their media. Evening StandardN “You can read it very easily about the attention economy or the clickbait.”“O’Connell described the events depicted in the film as a “tipping point”” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Left · 1Boyle also described an 'extremely uneventful' meeting with Murdoch, unrelated to the film, after 'Slumdog Millionaire' made money for Murdoch's studio. The Hollywood ReporterLC “it was an extremely uneventful meeting” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1'Ink' opens in UK cinemas in January 2027. Evening StandardN “Ink will be released in cinemas across the UK in January 2027.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Hollywood Reporter leads on Boyle's use of AI for Thatcher's face without asking her estate, which it says surprised audience members. It adds festival-chat asides about Murdoch and favourite films.
- Emphasis
- The Thatcher AI use, the estate decision, and the film's sparing use of AI.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the film's cast, its UK release date, or the 'terrifying' remarks about AI replacing journalism.
- For example
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“he shared some thoughts that surprised audience members.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Evening Standard, working from a Press Association interview, frames the film as a warning about AI and the state of journalism.
- Emphasis
- Journalism's danger, the attention economy, tech silos, the cast and the release date.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the AI recreation of Thatcher or the decision not to ask her estate.
- Charged language
- “terrifying”
- For example
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“Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle said his new film raises “terrifying” concerns about the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Danny Boyle directed 'Ink', about Rupert Murdoch's takeover of The Sun.
- Boyle spoke about the film around its BFI London Film Festival screening.
- Boyle voiced concern about AI replacing journalists.
Danny Boyle person
Boyle defends the limited AI use on Thatcher as a creative choice and says it replaced no one. He also warns that AI is replacing journalism.
“I don’t think the estate of people like Margaret Thatcher should have control” — The Hollywood Reporter
“It’s being easily replaced by AI, and that is terrifying.” — Evening Standard
North America1 outlet
The Hollywood Reporter focuses on the industry angle: AI use and rights for a depicted figure.
“I declined to ask the estate for permission to do that.” — The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The Evening Standard focuses on the film's relevance to British journalism and its UK release.
“Ink will be released in cinemas across the UK in January 2027.” — Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Left1 article
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Neutral Reports Boyle's festival Q&A, led by the AI Thatcher revelation and the estate question.
Centre1 article
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Danny Boyle says new film Ink raises ‘terrifying’ concerns for AI in journalism
Neutral Presents the film as a timely warning about AI and journalism, using Boyle's own words.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 9 Oct 18:06 First The Hollywood ReporterLC Danny Boyle Shares Why He Used AI for Maggie Thatcher in ‘Ink’ – Without Asking Her Estate and His Love for ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’
- 12 Oct 21:48 +75h 42m Evening StandardN Danny Boyle says new film Ink raises ‘terrifying’ concerns for AI in journalism
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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