A hotly-anticipated movie starring Olivia Colman that was filmed in Sussex comes out in cinemas this week.

Wicked Little Letters, a comedy mystery, based on a true scandal which hit Littlehampton in the 1920s when people were sent a series of obscene letters.

It was filmed in Arundel and Worthing in September and October 2022.

The film follows a group of women who set out to solve the mystery of who is writing the “scandalous” letters to people in the town.

It also stars Chernobyl actress Jessie Buckley.

The movie premiere was held in Leicester Square, London, on Tuesday, February 13.

The Argus: Filming in Arundel for new Olivia Colman movie Wicked Little Letters. Jessie Buckley, right, also stars in the film.Filming in Arundel for new Olivia Colman movie Wicked Little Letters. Jessie Buckley, right, also stars in the film. (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Olivia was joined by her actor husband Ed Sinclair - who co-produced the movie.

Olivia takes a starring role as Edith Swan - a conservative woman who is quick to point the finger in her community's mystery.

The Argus: Olivia Colman and husband Ed Sinclair attend the European premiere of Wicked Little LettersOlivia Colman and husband Ed Sinclair attend the European premiere of Wicked Little Letters (Image: PA)

Jessie plays Rose Gooding - the younger woman wrongly accused of writing the hateful letters to people in the town.

Olivia appeared on The Graham Norton Show on Friday to speak about her performance in the film.

She said: “In 1920s Littlehampton no one swore obviously and ladies were very well behaved and just drank tea and waited for their husbands to come home – apparently not.

“So my character Edith Swan is pious, Christian, perfect. Suddenly she gets these poison pen letters through the post which are awful, shocking.

“There are hundreds of them and all fingers point to Rose Gooding next door because she is an unmarried mother and she is rowdy and rude.

“It was debated in parliament and all over the broadsheets at the time.

The Argus: Olivia Colman, Thea Sharrock and Jessie Buckley attend the European premiere of Wicked Little Letters at Odeon Luxe, Leicester SquareOlivia Colman, Thea Sharrock and Jessie Buckley attend the European premiere of Wicked Little Letters at Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square (Image: PA)

“It is interesting because there are parallels with online trolling now. You look back a hundred years and think oh my God it was happening then.

“It was very sweary on set too which was really fun, just great.”

The film is being directed by Thea Sharrock, who directed the hit film Me Before You.

It is being produced by Studiocanal (Johnny English, Paddington) with Blueprint (The Banshees Of Inisherin, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Olivia’s South Of The River Pictures.