Steve Coogan’s 2022 British drama, The Lost King, will undergo a notable adjustment following a successful lawsuit stemming from the portrayal of a university official. This film, which depicted the real-life quest to locate Richard III’s remains in a Leicester car park, faced legal challenges regarding its representation of Richard Taylor, the University of Leicester’s deputy registrar at the time.
Taylor, portrayed by actor Lee Ingleby in the film, took issue with how he was represented, claiming that the film presented him as “misogynistic” and “weasel-like.” In June, Judge Jaron Lewis ruled in favor of Taylor, stating the film depicted him as someone who “knowingly misrepresented facts to the media and the public,” calling his representation “smug, unduly dismissive and patronizing,” which could potentially be classified as defamatory.
The parties have now reached a settlement in which Taylor will receive “substantial damages,” and crucially, an on-screen clarification will be added to versions of the film distributed in England and Wales. However, the filmmakers will not alter any actual footage. The clarification will explain that while a character named Richard Taylor appears in the film as a university employee, this portrayal is fictional and does not accurately reflect the real Taylor’s actions, who conducted himself with integrity during the events of 2012.
Taylor expressed satisfaction with the court’s acknowledgment of the film’s defamatory nature, stating, “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.” He emphasized the collaborative efforts of both university academics and volunteers in the actual search, reiterating the importance of their teamwork.
A joint statement from the production companies, Pathé Productions and Baby Cow Productions, along with Coogan, affirmed their pride in the film while acknowledging the responsibility that accompanies the depiction of real-life stories. They confirmed that no significant editorial changes would be made to the film, apart from the inclusion of the on-screen clarification.
This resolution exemplifies the delicate balance between creative storytelling and factual accuracy in filmmaking, underscoring the importance of portraying real individuals with integrity and respect. The acknowledgment of such concerns reflects positively on the industry’s commitment to authenticity, ensuring that narratives remain compelling while honoring the truth.