Over the past few days, I’ve made an exciting announcement of my own (see https://alexmarchantblog.wordpress.com/2021/08/31/king-in-waiting-cover-reveal-and-now-available-for-pre-order/), but today’s via the Richard III Society no doubt tops that!
It brings more news of a film project that has been long awaited by many of us – Steve Coogan’s film about the discovery of King Richard III’s grave by Philippa Langley and her colleagues in the Looking for Richard Project team – John Ashdown-Hill, Annette Carson and David and Wendy Johnson.
I for one can’t wait for the true story to be shown on film, with the light touch of an accomplished film-maker (think Philomena, Stan & Ollie) and the input of Philippa herself – and for King Richard to be presented in a more realistic, and therefore more positive way than has so far been usual.
The following is the press release from the film company involved – and the first official picture from the production.
FIRST LOOK!
“Pathe today released the first image from The Lost King, starring Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winning actress Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, Blue Jasmine, Happy-Go-Lucky) in the lead role of Philippa Langley.
Joining Sally Hawkins are Steve Coogan (Stan & Ollie, Philomena) in the role of Philippa’s husband John Langley; and Harry Lloyd in the role of Richard III.
The film reunites the Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning creative team behind box office and critical hit, Philomena – director Stephen Frears and writers Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope.
The Lost King tells the remarkable true story of how one ‘ordinary’ woman discovered the long-lost remains of King Richard III. The film recently finished shooting in Edinburgh and Leicester and will be released in cinemas nationwide next year, the 10th anniversary of the discovery.
In 2012, having been lost for over 500 years, the remains of King Richard III were discovered beneath a car park in Leicester. The search had been orchestrated by an amateur historian, Philippa Langley, whose unrelenting research had been met with incomprehension by her friends and family and with scepticism by experts and academics. The Lost King is the life affirming true story of a woman who refused to be ignored and who took on the country’s most eminent historians, forcing them to think again about one of the most infamous kings in England’s history.
The film is produced by Steve Coogan, Christine Langan (The Queen) and Dan Winch (A Very English Scandal) and is a Baby Cow production for Pathe, BBC Film, Ingenious Media and Screen Scotland. Executive Producers are Cameron McCracken and Jenny Borgars for Pathe; Rose Garnett for BBC Film; Andrea Scarso for Ingenious; Jeff Pope and Philippa Langley. The film was co-produced by Wendy Griffin.”
Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by the king, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).
A third book in the ‘White Boar’ sequence, King in Waiting, is currrently available for pre-order and will be published on 17 September 2021, with the fourth, Sons of York, due out in 2022. Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time.
Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at:
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
The Order of the White Boar 