Sussex’s Starring Role in new film!
‘Wicked Little Letters’ is a film by Thea Sharrock, starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, and Anjana Vasan coming out on the 23rd February.
Producers Blueprint Pictures, who have been behind a number of recent successful productions such as ‘All of Us Strangers’ and ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, based their shoot in Sussex with our assistance.
A Bit of a Backstory
When British writer-comedian Jonny Sweet first stumbled across the true story of these two warring neighbours and a series of filthy-worded, anonymous letters that rocked the nation in the early 1920s, he quickly knew it would make for a great basis for his first movie script. Graham Broadbent of Blueprint pictures loved the concept;
“What we were always looking for was a script that was original and bold and entertaining and audience-facing and when I read it for the first time, I just thought, ‘This is great’”
Blueprint then introduced the script to Thea Sharrock who they had worked with on their most recent project, ‘The Beautiful Game’. She was intrigued by the challenge the film would present in terms of differing tones and the style of humour that Sweet had crafted into the script;
“I think it touches on some really big themes but in ways that don’t really hit you until it’s over. And then it leaves you with a lot to think about. It’s unlike any script I’ve ever read.”
Our Role in the Production
We facilitated filming in Worthing (Town, Beach and Seafront) and Arundel (Tarrant Street, High Street and Bond Street). When Blueprint Pictures first contacted us, we were incredibly excited to be working on a film recounting a local narrative. Initially, the team were looking to shoot in the true location of the story, Littlehampton. However, unfortunately, it is a far cry away from how it looked 100 years ago! That being said, we pride ourselves on being able to provide filming ‘doubles’ for all number of locations, and this was no exception. Although the team were also looking into Norfolk as a filming location, we presented Arundel and Worthing, and the director fell in love!
Worthing is a beautiful traditional seaside town in West Sussex with a rich history. It’s an attractive destination for tourists and filmmakers alike looking to seek the English coastal experience, with a mix of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, a gorgeous pier, and a number of parks and green spaces as well as a vibrant town and community.
Also located in West Sussex, Arundel is a historic market town situated on the River Arun. It’s renowned for its picturesque landscape, mediaeval history, and the prominent Arundel Castle. Arundel retains its traditional market town charm with cobbled streets, historic buildings, and charming character. It’s a picturesque filming location that made for a perfect base for the brilliant production design team to take us back to the 1920s.
Short Synopsis
The film is set in a 1920s English seaside town which bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal. Based on a stranger than fiction true story, Wicked Little Letters follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley).
When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive ‘wicked letters’ full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues.
However, as the town’s women – led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) – begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect that something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit after all…
We are very proud to have been able to showcase the beauty of Sussex in this exciting upcoming comedy, if you haven’t booked your tickets yet, what are you waiting for! In the meantime, check out the trailer…
Wicked Little Letters will be released by StudioCanal in UK cinemas on 23rd February 2024.
Images courtesy of StudioCanalUK.