Movie about porn baron Paul Raymond The King of Soho forced to change name

Raymond in 1969 (Rex Features)

A high-profile movie about porn baron Paul Raymond starring Steve Coogan will have to change its title after a legal tussle with the late tycoon's family.

The Channel 4-backed film was to be called The King Of Soho, but faced a challenge from Raymond's son who had already registered the name for a rival production.

Now backers of the Coogan movie - directed by acclaimed film-maker Michael Winterbottom - have agreed they will find a new name for the biopic about the businessman, who amassed a fortune from his publishing and property empire.

Raymond's son Howard called in lawyers claiming he had the rights to the name - also the title of a biography he wrote about his father. A film based on his book is to star Tom Hiddleston, who featured in War Horse and Avengers Assemble.

Howard Raymond said he was pleased that the name would change to avoid confusion and said he had no desire to stop the other film going ahead.

He said: "I am delighted that Michael Winterbottom has agreed to change the name of his film as it was causing a huge amount of confusion in the media that two films were being made about my father under the same title.

"It is unfortunate that it proved necessary to have to resort to legal proceedings to bring this issue to a conclusion but I am pleased that they have had a change of heart and backed down.

"I have never wanted or sought to prevent this rival production from making a film about my late father's life.

Businessman Raymond died in 2008 after amassing a fortune through his properties around the Soho area of London and his string of adult publications. He famously owned the Raymond Revuebar strip club which featured in the Beatles movie Magical Mystery Tour.

The Coogan movie based on his life also stars Anna Friel, Imogen Poots and Tamsin Egerton and is based on the book Paul Raymond's Wonderful World Of Erotica.

Howard Raymond added: "This dispute concerned only their decision to change the title of their film to The King of Soho, which is the title for the film project I am associated with.

"The title was settled upon over two years ago and is subject to a trademark registered in favour of my company.

"Now I can't wait to see Tom Hiddleston play my father in a film based on my book called The King of Soho and which will be released in cinemas under the name The King of Soho.

"I don't know what Michael Winterbottom will now call his film. That is now up to him."

Production company StudioCanal which is backing the Winterbottom film said it is currently in the post-production stages and a spokeswoman said the company looked forward to announcing the title "in due course".

PA