Sony Pictures Classics Buys ‘Wicked Little Letters’ for North America – The Hollywood Reporter
Delivering some late deal-making momentum to the American Film Market, Sony Pictures Classics snatched up North America and China distribution rights to the British black comedy mystery film Wicked Little Letters, starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.
Sony acquired the rights from StudioCanal and will release the film theatrically in 2024.
Directed by Thea Sharrock (Me Before You) from a screenplay by Jonny Sweet (Greed), Wicked Little Letters is based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England. The story centers on neighbors Edith Swan (Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Buckley) in the seaside town of Littlehampton. One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and others, and when suspicion falls on Rose, the women of the town suspect something is amiss and decide to investigate.
Wicked Little Letters recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film’s cast is rounded out by BAFTA Film and Television nominee Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts), BAFTA nominee Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner), BAFTA winner Joanna Scanlan (After Love), Hugh Skinner (Fleabag), BAFTA winner Malachi Kirby (Small Axe), Gemma Jones (the Bridget Jones trilogy), Lolly Adefope (Ghosts), Eileen Atkins (The Crown) and Alisha Weir (Matilda!).
The deal was negotiated between SPC and StudioCanal, who financed the film with Film4. Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films previously acquired additional international rights.
The film is produced by Blueprint Pictures (Emma, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) alongside South of the River Pictures (Landscapers) and Jo Wallett (Catherine Called Birdy, Emma). It is executive produced by 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 executive produced the film along with Simon Bird for Person Pictures.