A Brighton landmark was used as inspiration for set design in a major new film that a Sussex beauty spot also starred in. 

Windows at the Royal Pavilion were replicated in the highly-anticipated Hollywood adaption of the Broadway musical Wicked and acted as the backdrop for one of the musical’s big numbers Popular.

The windows are in the dormitory room of main characters Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, at Shiz University.

Elphaba later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West while Glinda is branded the Good Witch.

Speaking to Architectural Digest, production designer for the blockbuster Nathan Crowley said he had scouted the Royal Pavilion and described it as “remarkable piece of architecture”.

“I went down there because it was probably one of the few places in England that I felt was Ozian,” he said.

“It wasn’t just Indian it was a mix of Chinese architecture, Indian architecture.

“That was a way into what Shiz University was going to become.

“I’d been into one of the onion domes and I’d noticed these windows and it occurred to me that these were very Shizian and very Ozian and so we built these windows all over the set.

“You’ll see all these what look like plaster mouldings in the ceiling.

Cynthia Erivo (left) and Ariana Grande arriving for the UK premiere of Wicked at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre in LondonCynthia Erivo (left) and Ariana Grande arriving for the UK premiere of Wicked at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre in London (Image: Ian West/PA Wire) “We’ve got a full ceiling and everything would come apart for lighting and cameras.

“It was like a giant orange slice on the ceiling

Sussex played another role in the film.

The scene where Glinda arrives at Shiz University in a sailing boat was filmed in Cuckmere Haven, near Seaford, last June.

In the film the Seven Sisters cliffs appear to have been added to the backdrop of the same scene.

Dozens of lorries and trailers filled Seven Sisters Car Park during the filming and an Argus reporter was able to spot the boat in situ.

The moored boatThe moored boat (Image: Denise Tidder) A spokesman for South Downs National Park said at the time: "Seven Sisters is an internationally iconic location and from time to time is used for film shoots.

"The shoot is one of many at the country park that are managed by Sussex Film Office and we’re not able to give details of individual film shoots."

The film also features names including Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Independence Day’s Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh.

Wicked is in cinemas now.