Steve Coogan really is back in business.
The comedic actor has already announced he will be taking his much-loved radio anti-hero Alan Partridge to the big screen with writer Armando Ianucci, and chewing over the prospect of a sequel to The Trip with partner in crime Rob Brydon,
Now, he's been confirmed to be taking the lead role of Soho porn king and publishing empresario Paul Raymond, in the forthcoming film King of Soho, to be directed by his longtime creative partner Michael Winterbottom.
Raymond was dubbed the King of Soho 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. His larger-than-life personality is the perfect outlet for Coogan's screen skills.
Director Winterbottom has worked with Coogan on several previous occasions - on the big screen with 24 Hour Party People, Cock and Bull Story (co-starring Rob Brydon) and on the small screen with 2010's well-received semi-improvised The Trip (again with Brydon), which is mooted to be returning later in the year.
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.”
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.
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."
The film is being made as a co-production between StudioCanal, Revolution Films and FilmFour.