Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American rights to “Wicked Little Letters,” a stranger-than-fiction mystery comedy starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley. The movie, directed by “Me Before You” filmmaker Thea Sharrock, had its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
“Wicked Little Letters” will debut in theaters sometime in 2024.
Set in a 1920s English seaside town amid a “dark and absurd scandal,” the film follows the true story of two neighbors: the deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Colman) and the rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, fouth-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues — but as the town’s women start to investigate, they suspect that Rose may not be the culprit after all.
“’Wicked Little Letters’ not only showcases great actors at the peak of their comedic form but also provides the kind of fun, rich entertainment audiences hunger for now more than ever,” Sony Pictures Classics said in a statement.
The rest of the cast includes Anjana Vasan (“We Are Lady Parts”), Timothy Spall (“Mr. Turner”), Joanna Scanlan (“After Love”), Hugh Skinner (“Fleabag”), Malachi Kirby (“Small Axe”), Gemma Jones (“Bridget Jones”), Lolly Adefope (“Ghosts”), Eileen Atkins (“The Crown”) and Alisha Weir (“Matilda”).
This acquisition reunites Sony Pictures Classics with actors Colman and Spall, who have both starred in previous films released by the distributor. Colman’s performance in 2020’s “The Father” earned her a best supporting actress Oscar nomination, while Spall won best actor at Cannes Film Festival for 2014’s “Mr. Turner.”
The deal was negotiated between SPC and StudioCanal, who financed “Wicked Little Letters” with Film4. Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films previously acquired additional international rights.
The film is produced by Blueprint Pictures, alongside South of The River Pictures and Jo Wallett. Executive producers were Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern, and Joe Naftalin for StudioCanal and Daniel Battsek, Ollie Madden, and Farhana Bhula for Film4. In addition to writing the screenplay, Sweet also executive produced the film along with Simon Bird for Person Pictures.
“We are thrilled to partner with SPC on ‘Wicked Little Letters’ and closely following the fantastic reception in TIFF,” StudioCanal’s head of international sales Chloe Marquet said. “We know that SPC is the ideal partner to bring this very special movie to audiences in North America next year.”
