Steve Coogan’s already-released British drama to be ‘changed’ after successful lawsuit

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Following a legal victory, Steve Coogan’s film The Lost King will be revised. The lawsuit centered on what was considered a damaging portrayal of a university worker. The movie, released in 2022, tells the true story of how the remains of King Richard III were found buried under a parking lot in Leicester.

I was completely captivated by Sally Hawkins’ performance as Philippa Langley! She really brought to life that incredible, determined search she led back in 2012, working with the archaeologists from the University of Leicester. And Lee Ingleby was fantastic as Richard Taylor, the university official who was part of it all – he felt so real!

Okay, so this is kinda wild. Apparently, the guy who helped find Richard III’s remains – Taylor – wasn’t happy with how he was shown in the movie The Lost King. He actually sued the writer, Coogan, and the production companies, Baby Cow and Pathé, claiming the movie made him look like a total jerk – specifically, ‘misogynistic’ and ‘weasel-like’. It’s a messy situation, but he clearly felt the film really misrepresented him.

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In June, Judge Jaron Lewis determined the film showed Taylor as intentionally misleading the public and press regarding the discovery. He also stated that the film’s condescending and disrespectful portrayal of Taylor could be considered defamatory.

According to the BBC, the legal dispute has been resolved with a settlement. Taylor will receive a significant amount of money in damages, and the case won’t proceed to court.

Besides a financial agreement, the defendants will include a brief explanation at the start of the movie whenever it’s shown in England and Wales. The film itself will remain unchanged – no scenes will be removed or altered.

The film includes a character named Richard Taylor who is depicted as a University of Leicester employee. However, this portrayal is entirely fictional and does not reflect the actions of the real Richard Taylor, who was a deputy registrar at the University and acted with honesty and professionalism during the time period shown in the film.

In an interview with the BBC, Taylor expressed relief that it’s been confirmed the film presents a damaging and untrue depiction of her, and misrepresents the search for Richard III.

That shouldn’t take away from what was a truly amazing team effort. It was a great experience bringing together university experts and amateur enthusiasts to find Richard III.

“But it’s fantastic now, that we have established in court that The Lost King is a misleading, defamatory, untrue portrayal of what happened in Leicester back in 2012.”

Pathé Productions, Baby Cow Productions, and Steve Coogan jointly stated that, as companies known for sharing true and intricate stories, they understand the importance of handling such subjects responsibly. They are dedicated to approaching each project with thoughtfulness, honesty, and a focus on accuracy.

We’re very proud of the film and happy to have reached a resolution. As part of the agreement, the film will remain as it is, with only a brief clarification added at the start.

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2025-10-27 21:51