Steve Coogan to play infamous porn impresario Paul Raymond in Michael Winterbottom’s King of Soho
Anna Friel, Tamsin Egerton and Imogen Poots also announced to star
Film4, Revolution Films and STUDIOCANAL have announced an all-star British line-up for Michael Winterbottom’s King of Soho, a comedy-drama about the colourful business and personal life of renowned club proprietor and porn publisher Paul Raymond, written by Matt Greenhalgh (Nowhere Boy, Control).
Steve Coogan will play the eponymous ‘King of Soho’, so dubbed by the press due to his huge club and Property Empire which, along with his porn business, amassed him a fortune of billions of pounds.
Anna Friel will play Paul’s first wife Jean Raymond; Tamsin Edgerton his glamour model girlfriend Fiona Richmond; and Imogen Poots will star as Paul’s beloved daughter Debbie Raymond.
Steve Coogan says: "I'm very excited to be working with Michael Winterbottom again. Like 24 Hour Party People, we want to capture the life of an extraordinary man living in extraordinary times.”
Michael Winterbottom says: “The King of Soho chronicles the colourful life and times of Paul Raymond, who began his career on stage as an end-of-the-pier mind-reader and ended his life the richest man in Britain. It's the perfect role for Steve Coogan and it is great we have Anna Friel, Tamsin Egerton and Imogen Poots playing the three most important women in his life."
Katherine Butler, Film4’s Senior Commissioning Executive, says: “Paul Raymond was a larger-than-life character and I can’t think of a better combination of Matt, Michael and Steve, alongside an incredible line-up of British acting talent, to tell his extraordinary story. It’s so exciting to be working once again with Michael, Revolution and our great friends at STUDIOCANAL, on a film which promises to channel the essence of Paul’s life – flamboyant, unconventional, risqué, fun, and ultimately, bittersweet.”
Jenny Borgars, STUDIOCANAL, says: “Michael is one of the most exciting film-makers in the UK with Steve one of our greatest comedians. We are delighted to be working with them and everyone at Revolution and Film4 to bring the crazy world of Paul Raymond to life.”
King of Soho reunites Winterbottom and Coogan following their critically-acclaimed collaborations 24 Hour Party People, A Cock and Bull Story and The Trip. Film4 developed and co-financed the film, with STUDIOCANAL co-financing and having UK distribution rights, and selling internationally. LipSync will be providing all post production services for the film.
Melissa Parmenter is producing (Trishna, The Trip), with Film4’s Katherine Butler, and STUDIOCANAL’s Danny Perkins and Jenny Borgars Executive Producing.
King of Soho is a Revolution Films production in association with Baby Cow Productions.
The film is a STUDIOCANAL and Film4 presentation in association with Anton Capital Entertainment, S.C.A. and Lip Sync Productions.