Steve Coogan has settled a libel claim over 2022’s The Lost King after a university academic sued over his depiction in the film.
The British actor-comedian wrote and starred in the drama following the hunt for King Richard III’s remains in 2012. But a University of Leicester employee named Richard Taylor later sued Coogan — as well as his production outfit Baby Cow and Pathé Productions — over what he called a defamatory, “misogynistic” and “weasel-like” portrayal. Taylor, then the deputy registrar of the University of Leicester, was played in the film by English actor Lee Ingleby.
In June, a U.K. judge ruled that the film portrayed the claimant having “knowingly misrepresented facts to the media and the public” about the discovery, and as being “smug, unduly dismissive and patronizing,” which could be defamatory. The case was set to go to trial.
But on Monday, it was announced Taylor was successful in his claim and had settled with the parties involved, including Coogan. He is to be awarded “substantial damages” following the court ruling. “I’m really pleased that we have finally established that the film is a defamatory portrayal of me — baseless in its depiction of me and a distortion of the search for Richard III,” Taylor told BBC News outside the London court.
The Lost King will be changed and defamatory comments “not repeated.” Sally Hawkins led the cast as Philippa Langley, the real-life researcher who led the initiative and was eventually successful in locating Richard III’s centuries-old skeleton under an English parking lot.
Coogan plays John Langley, Philippa’s estranged husband. Ingleby’s portrayal of Richard Taylor is written as initially dismissive of Langley’s project but who later is an enthusiastic supporter, though he omits Langley from the press conference announcing the results to the world.
A joint statement from Pathe Productions, Baby Cow Productions and Coogan told the BBC: “As a distributor and producer recognised for bringing complex, real-life stories to audiences, we are deeply aware of the responsibility that comes with such portrayals and approach each project with care, integrity, and a commitment to authenticity.
“We remain incredibly proud of this film,” they added, “and are pleased this matter has now been settled.”
