A former deputy registrar of the College of Leicester is suing the makers of the 2022 movie The Misplaced King, claiming it offered him as “dismissive, patronising and misogynistic”.
Richard Taylor was performed by Lee Ingleby within the movie, which is concerning the discovery of the stays of Richard III in a parking lot in Leicester in 2012, greater than 500 years after his loss of life. At a listening to in London on Thursday, Taylor’s barrister, William Bennett KC, asserted that his consumer was portrayed as “devious”, “weasel-like” and a “suited bean-counter”.
Taylor, who left the college in 2013, is proven within the movie as antagonistic in direction of novice historian Philippa Langley, performed by Sally Hawkins, who spearheads the dig and is sidelined by the tutorial neighborhood once they search to take credit score for the invention.
Langley’s husband is performed by Steve Coogan, who co-wrote the script with Jeff Pope. The movie was directed by Stephen Frears, who collaborated with Coogan and Pope on the 2013 movie Philomena. Taylor is suing the film-makers, in addition to manufacturing firm Child Cow and distributors Pathe.
In written submissions, Bennett mentioned: “The related context is the nice versus unhealthy narrative, which runs by means of the movie.
“Ms Langley is portrayed because the gutsy underdog heroine struggling in opposition to opposition and the claimant because the smug villain.
“He not solely takes steps to ensure that folks have no idea about her function, however takes the credit score, which was rightfully hers, for himself and the college.”
Bennett continued: “It’s an easy, plot-driven movie the place every little thing that’s mentioned and executed issues.” He later mentioned that Taylor was portrayed as “mocking” Richard III’s incapacity and “linking bodily deformity with wickedness or ethical failings”.
In a press release after the discharge of the movie, the College of Leicester contended plenty of features of the movie, together with Taylor’s portrayal, saying that it “doesn’t in any approach resemble the truth throughout this era … Our information level to a colleague participating constructively, collegiately, pretty and professionally all through the challenge.”
In October 2022, Taylor instructed the BBC: “I’m portrayed as form of a bullying, cynical, double-crossing, devious manipulator which is unhealthy, however then if you add to that I behave in a sexist approach and a approach that appears to mock Richard III’s disabilities, you begin to get into the realm of defamation.”
Andrew Caldecott KC, representing Child Cow and Pathe, mentioned in written submissions: “It’s a characteristic movie, not a documentary. It could be clear to the odd affordable viewer that the movie isn’t a documentary, it’s a dramatisation of occasions. The idea of fictional movies primarily based on actual occasions isn’t a brand new one.”
Caldecott mentioned the movie states it was “primarily based on a real story”, including: “It isn’t a literal portrayal of actual phrases … and can be understood as placing ahead Ms Langley’s notion.”
He denied that Taylor is proven as misogynist within the movie, including his “concern is about Ms Langley’s novice standing and lack of historic experience, and never her gender”.
Caldecott continued: “While the movie is clearly strongly vital of Mr Taylor and the college for sidelining Ms Langley on the dig and after the invention of the physique and never giving her enough credit score, his clear motive is to use the invention to additional the college’s business pursuits.
“No affordable viewer would conclude that his motive was sexism or misogynism.”
Caldecott added that Taylor was not portrayed as mocking Richard III’s incapacity, “and positively not mocking disabled folks usually”.
On the time of launch, the film-makers responded to the College of Leicester and Taylor’s objection by saying: “The college’s model of occasions has been extensively documented over the previous 10 years. Philippa’s recollection of occasions, as corroborated by the film-makers’ analysis, could be very totally different.”
In June 2023, the college appeared to have toned down its claims concerning the extent of its involvement within the discovery. In a press launch concerning the college’s development, pro-vice chancellor Philip Baker mentioned: “We have been concerned with the profitable unearthing, identification and reinterment of Richard III and now we’re main the Dickens Code challenge to decipher the writer’s shorthand texts.”
The College had beforehand mentioned it “led the search” for Richard III’s stays. Taylor is now chief working officer at Loughborough College. His biography on that college’s web site says he “was one of many prime leaders behind the profitable seek for King Richard III’s stays”.
