Rebel Wilson‘s directorial debut, The Deb, has been delayed for an additional three months. The film scheduled for a limited release in Australia on Jan. 15 will now premiere on April 9, according to Deadline. The Deb was selected to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, an opportunity that led to an ongoing legal battle between Wilson and the film’s producers.
This week, a Los Angeles judge agreed to cut down Wilson’s breach-of-contract and fraud lawsuit against producer Amanda Ghost. In July 2024, Wilson shared social media posts accusing Ghost of “inappropriate behavior” towards The Deb actress Charlotte MacInnes and “embezzling funds from the film’s budget.” Ghost sued Wilson for defamation, leading to a countersuit accusing Ghost, Gregory Cameron, and Vince Holden of breach of contract, false imprisonment, fraudulent inducement, and infliction of emotional distress.
Wilson’s emotional distress claim is the only cause of action that survived the judge’s gutting of the lawsuit. He ruled that the remainder of the claims “lacked particularity,” adding, “We do not have time to say, ‘Let’s go back to the beginning of time, when this person first started their career.’” The judge referred to Wilson’s complaints about Ghost’s long history of “seedy practices and unethical behavior” as “debris that just obscures the real issues in the case.” The lawsuit now primarily focuses on Wilson’s breach of contract and fair dealing claims against AI Film.
The Deb is an “Australian musical about two very different teenage cousins who initially clash but eventually join forces to make their mark on their town’s annual debutante ball,” according to a synopsis from TIFF. The film was written by Hannah Reilly and features actors Natalie Abbott, Stevie Jean, Brianna Bishop, and more. Wilson stepped from behind the camera to take on a role in the film, as well.
From Rolling Stone US
