EXCLUSIVE: Due to the ongoing legal dispute between Rebel Wilson and the film’s producers, the film’s directorial debut, The Deb, has been postponed once more.
The Australian premiere of the musical comedy, which follows the lives of outback Australian teenagers attending a debutante ball, was scheduled for today, January 15. After a rethink in recent weeks, the Deb is now anticipated to make its debut on April 9. Local distribution is handled by Rialto Distribution.
The revised release date coincides with Wilson’s significant legal setback this week, as a judge in the LA Superior Court dismissed most of her allegations against Vince Holden, Gregor Cameron, and Amanda Ghost.
Ghost has been given permission by the judge to conduct discovery regarding alleged “smear websites” that made inflammatory claims that the producer was the “Indian Ghislaine Maxwell.” Ghost thinks Wilson was responsible for the websites, although the Pitch Perfect star has refuted this in court filings. Wilson has been charged with perjury by Team Ghost.
Legal actions are also taking place in Australia, where Charlotte MacInnes, the lead actress in The Deb, is suing Wilson for defamation after claiming that Ghost sexually harassed her. Additionally, The Deb producers filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, claiming Wilson violated her contract and interfered with efforts to secure distribution.
When The Deb was chosen to have its Toronto Film Festival premiere in 2024, the controversy came to light. Wilson accused the producers of The Deb of “inappropriate behavior towards the lead actress” and embezzling money from the movie’s budget in a video posted to Instagram at the time.
Last month, Deadline released a thorough analysis of the story, which included a close look at the claims of sexual harassment.
