LONDON — StudioCanal has set a March 8 theatrical release date for the U.K. premiere of Michael Winterbottom's "The Look of Love," a biopic based on porn maverick and real estate mogul Paul Raymond.
British comedic actor Steve Coogan ("Tropic Thunder") plays Raymond in the film. He tells EmpireOnline.com, "It's a very British story about an eccentric character at the center of pivotal events in British culture.
"I love the film. It has that strange combination of comedy and tragedy that Michael Winterbottom manages to pull off with a real deftness of touch. Oh and there's lots of naked ladies in it too!"
Raymond was the founder of numerous adult publications, including Club International and Mayfair. He introduced the first fully nude strip club, The Raymond Revuebar, to London in the 1960s.
He was later dubbed the "King of Soho" after investing his fortune in real estate, purchasing numerous properties in London's Soho neighborhood.
"The Look of Love" was originally titled "The King of Soho." Winterbottom was forced to change the project's name when Raymond's son Howard revealed in July that he had trademarked the title for a Paul Raymond biopic he is producing with "Avengers" star Tom Hiddleston in the lead.
