Rebel Wilson is facing a new lawsuit over her directorial debut, “The Deb.”
The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, has yet to secure a wide release, primarily due to a series of lawsuits that have marred its journey to the big screen. As per Rolling Stone, the latest development sees AI Films, a UK-based production company, filing a lawsuit against Wilson in Australia, claiming she “deliberately undermined” the film’s release.
AI Films, alongside Wilson’s Camp Sugar, holds the rights to “The Deb.” According to the lawsuit, Wilson allegedly spread false information online and breached her contractual duties, actions that AI Films claims were aimed at sabotaging the film’s release in Australia. The lawsuit also accuses Wilson of threatening the film’s Australian distributor, leading to the withdrawal of their distribution proposal.
This legal battle is not new. It began last summer when Wilson accused several producers of “The Deb,” including Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden, of misconduct such as embezzlement and sexual harassment against the film’s lead actress, Charlotte MacInnes.
These producers have denied the allegations and have counter-sued Wilson for defamation in the US. MacInnes herself has refuted Wilson’s claims.
AI Films suggests that Wilson’s actions might be an attempt to pressure them and another production company, the Australian Dunburn Debutantes Commissioning Company, into selling their stakes to Camp Sugar. Despite these proceedings, AI Films remains hopeful about the film’s release, describing it as a “joyous, fun film” that audiences are sure to love.
Wilson, however, has vehemently denied the allegations against her. In a statement on her Instagram Stories, she expressed her desire for the film to be released, claiming she has been working tirelessly to make it happen. She described the lawsuit as “complete nonsense” and labelled it as continued bullying and harassment from the UK financiers after she exposed their alleged misconduct.
In a further act of defiance, Wilson shared a previously unreleased song from “The Deb” titled “Fuck My Life,” suggesting that if the financiers are not going to release the movie, she might as well share parts of it herself.