News

Rebel Wilson makes her directorial debut with “The Deb,” a riotous Australian musical that flips the classic coming-of-age story. Adapted from Hannah Reilly’s stage musical, the film features Wilson’s signature humorous approach while examining the tensions between metropolitan sophistication and country simplicity. This effervescent comedy-musical follows two cousins as they navigate the world of a small-town debutante ball, combining cutting social commentary and captivating musical numbers.

Set in the dusty Australian outback town of Dunburn, the film follows Maeve, a provocative city girl who enjoys performative activism, and her cousin Taylah, a small-town dreamer who is enamored with the local debutante ritual. When Maeve is exiled from her exclusive school due to a botched protest, she is thrown into rural life and rapidly becomes involved in the town’s 100th-anniversary debutante ball.

Wilson’s directorial debut promises a wild ride that’s equal parts social critique and musical celebration.

Rebel Wilson has lost a bid to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by three producers behind her directorial debut, The Deb, who said they were falsely accused by the actress of sexual harassment and embezzlement.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas Long ruled that the lawsuit will move forward, finding that Wilson can’t take advantage of a California statute allowing for the early dismissal of cases intended to chill free speech. The actresses’ “statements are not protected activities” and were made in the context of a private business dispute, the court concluded in an order issued on Thursday.

In an Instagram video posted in July, Wilson said she reported producers on The Deb last year when she discovered “inappropriate behavior towards the lead actress of the film” and “embezzling funds from the film’s budget.” She accused them of blocking the movie from premiering at the closing spot of...

When Maeve (Charlotte MacInnes) gets suspended from school after a political demonstration backfires, her mother (Susan Prior), who also happens to be the institution’s principal, sends the Sydney teenager to live with her cousin Taylah (Natalie Abbott) in the Australian outback.

Dunburn, the fictional locale in which Rebel Wilson’s uneven directorial debut The Deb is set, is a small town recovering from a years-long drought and dereliction of duty by national ministries. The local government desperately needs money to maintain their water supply and have resorted, in one of the film’s more humorous gags, to making a viral video to bring attention to their plight. Of course, none of these issues concern Maeve, who arrives in Dunburn already plotting her escape.

Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Deb chronicles Maeve’s fish-out-of-water adventures in Dunburn. Upon arrival, the cosmopolitan teen loudly rejects the town’s regressive traditions.

Of all the projects Rebel Wilson could have taken on for her directorial debut, there’s much about “The Deb” that makes sense. Based on a largely well-received stage musical, it’s got a sturdy if straightforward premise about the fictional town of Dunburn, Australia with all the many distinct characters that call it home and the outsider protagonist who finds herself part of the community.

There is plenty of room for heartfelt charm, chaotic shenanigans and more biting observations about its culture clash to be explored, though rarely does “The Deb” capitalize on this. It’s a meandering experience defined by the broadest of narrative strokes, cardboard cutout characters and musical numbers that start fun before growing more oddly obligatory in nature.

With all that in mind, while “The Deb” is unlikely ever to be considered one of the great movie musicals, it still has a smattering of playful...

With the goal of making a big-screen Australian musical in the vein of movies like Muriel’s Wedding and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert that made such an impression on her growing up, Rebel Wilson has in many ways measured up to the delights that made those films modern classics in The Deb, which just had its world premiere at the closing night of the Toronto Film Festival.

Overshadowed in the past few weeks by a public dispute between Wilson and the film’s producers that nearly derailed this premiere, that kind of negative energy should not cloud what, for much of its two-hour running time, is a toe-tapping, dazzling, fun and young musical entertainment with an exceptional cast in the kind of showcase that makes future stars. Wilson knows exactly what kind of entertainment she wants to serve up here, and for at least the first half...

According to tradition, debutante balls are designed to introduce young ladies to polite society. But in Australian comedy star Rebel Wilson’s rowdy directorial debut, “The Deb,” there isn’t really anything that resembles “polite society.” Wilson’s characters run the gamut from uncouth to in-your-face offensive — none more than the tacky small-town beautician Wilson embodies in a brash, John Waters-esque musical satire, situated where overzealous progressive values meet old-school pageantry at its most patriarchal.

It’s unfortunate that the film’s Toronto Film Festival closing-night premiere is overshadowed by legal disputes between Wilson and three of her producers, since “The Deb” delivers where it counts. The project pokes fun at all parties while rewriting the codes of teenage romance for the 21st century. Right out of the gate, it’s “Hairspray” meets “High School Musical,” as the elaborately choreographed, radio-inappropriate opening number, “Fml,” sets the tone for all that follows.

Update: The following article has been updated with a response from a representative for Rebel Wilson.

Rebel Wilson is at the center of a defamation lawsuit following her claims against “The Deb” producers.

Wilson posted a social media video in which she accused “The Deb” producers Amanda Ghost and Gregor Cameron and executive producer Vince Holden of barring the film from debuting at TIFF 2024. Wilson also alleged that the trio of producers embezzled funds from the indie feature and harassed the lead actress.

Now, IndieWire can confirm that Ghost, Cameron, and Holden have filed an amended joint legal defamation complaint against Wilson. The case was filed in Los Angeles on July 12 and has an amended filing as of July 30. Among the amendments arw allegations that Wilson “refused to collaborate” with producers and “absconded from the film for months at a time.” Wilson is accused of also “behav[ing] unprofessionally with employees...

The feud between Rebel Wilson and the producers of her directorial debut is escalating.

On Monday evening, three producers behind the musical “The Deb” filed an amended complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court that expanded on their claims that the “Pitch Perfect” star defamed them when she accused them of “inappropriate behavior towards the lead actress of the film [and] embezzling funds from the film’s budget.” Wilson made the comments in a video posted on Instagram, in which she named the film’s producers Amanda Ghost and Gregor Cameron as well executive producer Vince Holden. The post is still live on the social media platform.

The amended complaint paints a picture of a diva-like star who was Mia from the set for months at a time, made multiple unauthorized and improper disclosures about the film and is now retaliating with claims she “simply made them up with actual malice” because...

Rebel Wilson’s The Deb will close the Toronto Film Festival on September 15 after all. This is after the actress claimed on social media that the pic’s EPs blocked her feature directorial debut from making its world premiere as the closing-night title at TIFF.

Meanwhile, David Gordon Green’s Nutcrackers with Ben Stiller is set to open the fest on September 5. Both films will be making their world premiere.

Wilson on July 10 took to social to bash her backers for getting in the way of her feature musical’s debut at TIFF, saying for them to “turn around and say that no, the movie can’t premiere, is just beyond devastating.”

She claimed in her post that the business partners Amanda Ghost and Gregory Cameron had “bad behavior.”

“And so I said — reported, I guess you would say — their bad behavior when I found out not minor things, big things,...

Australian comedy star Rebel Wilson is at the center of some serious drama – the producers of her upcoming directorial debut “The Deb” just sued her! On July 12th, Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden filed a defamation lawsuit in LA court.

They claim Wilson engaged in bullying on social media by spreading “malicious lies.” The producers say she tried intimidating them into giving in to her “unreasonable demands” by leveraging her huge platform. It seems to stem from issues like screenwriting credits.

While Hannah Reilly was given credit by the Writers’ Guild, Wilson reportedly wanted co-writing credit too. She was granted a smaller credit but apparently wasn’t happy. The suit also says Wilson abandoned the project for long periods and acted unprofessionally.

The producers deny Rebel’s accusations against them, like embezzlement and inappropriate behavior towards an actress. Wilson, for her part, posted on Instagram slamming the producers...

Rebel Wilson has been sued for defamation by three producers behind her directorial debut, The Deb, after she accused them of sexual harassment and embezzlement.

In an Instagram video on Wednesday, Wilson said she reported the producers last year when she “found out not minor things, big things” related to “inappropriate behavior towards the lead actress of the film” and “embezzling funds from the film’s budget.” She accused them of blocking the movie from premiering at the closing spot of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September.

Producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden, in a lawsuit filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, say Wilson lied in an attempt to release The Deb at TIFF, as well as secure a writing credit on the film.

The complaint details a combative relationship between the producers and Wilson, who allegedly refused to collaborate with them, deserted the...

Producers behind Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut The Deb sued the actress for defamation on Friday, two days after Wilson went on social media alleging that they embezzled funds and sabotaged her film from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In the lawsuit, obtained by Rolling Stone, The Deb’s producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron, and Vince Holden deny Wilson’s claims, further alleging that Wilson was pushing for credit on the musical’s script and songs. As the suit states, the musical was written by Hannah Reilly, a scholarship recipient of Wilson’s.

Invention Studios has launched two film and television development programs in Australia and Kenya dedicated to supporting top local writers and creators and bringing their projects to the world market.

Repped by CAA, Invention Studios was founded by CEO Nicholas Weinstock, the well-established producer of hit series such as “Severance” and “Escape at Dannemora.”

“We are thrilled to be expanding our international work to find the greatest emerging creators capable of developing wildly original and world-class movies and shows,” said Weinstock. “The talent, smarts, and ambition of writers and directors in fast-rising markets like Australia and Kenya are obvious. We’re proud and excited to be building innovative launchpads to help those creators generate game-changing films and series that can take the world by surprise — and by storm.”

In Australia, Invention is launching a comedy incubator program devoted to furthering the Australian comedy tradition of classics like “Kath & Kim,...

Rebel Wilson claims a Hollywood actor has “threatened her” after she revealed her intention to name and shame him over his previous behaviour in her forthcoming memoir.

The Australian actress previously stated she would be dedicating a whole chapter in her book, Rebel Rising, to a “massive a**hole” she once worked with. The book is scheduled for release April 2.

Now, Wilson has written on social media, claiming that the same man has hired a team to try to stop her writing about him.

She said on Instagram Stories: “Now the a**hole is trying to threaten me. He’s hired a crisis PR manager and lawyers. He’s trying to stop press coming out about my new book. But the book Will come out and you will all know the truth.”

News.com.au reports that, when she first referred in public to this episode, the Pitch Perfect star...

Rebel Wilson needed stitches after a stunt went wrong on the set of her movie “Bride Hard,” an indie film that was granted a waiver to film during the SAG-AFTRA strike.

The “Pitch Perfect” actress shared a photo of herself with a bloodied nose to her Instagram story, which was screencapped by Entertainment Tonight. She wrote in the caption, “Not the way I wanted to end this movie! 3 stitches and in hospital last night after a stunt accident at 4am.”

While most Hollywood production has been shut down, independent company Balcony 9 Productions was granted a strike waiver by SAG-AFTRA for the Simon West-directed action comedy.

The movie is set at a wedding where the bridal party is taken hostage by mercenaries, who have no idea that the maid of honor (Wilson) is actually a secret agent, who’s “ready to rain hell-fire upon anyone who would ruin...

Rebel Wilson is stepping into the music industry.

The Australian actress and singer has signed a deal with Warner Music and will have her very own, exceptionally personalized label — Rebellionaire — Deadline reports.

“Take the ‘b’ out of billionaire and replace it with an ‘r’ for Rebel,” she told the publication of her partnership with the recording group, whom was set on partnering after hearing songs from Wilson’s feature directorial debut “The Deb” — a comedy/musical set in Australia.

The first release from Rebellionaire will be “The Deb”’s soundtrack, out late 2024 along with the film’s debut.

Wilson was first introduced to “The Deb” over three years ago via a scholarship program she supports at Sydney’s Australian Theatre for Young People (Atyp).

Read More: Rebel Wilson Reveals She’s Auditioned For New James Bond Movie

“Basically, one young person wins it and then I mentor them for a year,...

Exclusive: Rebel Wilson has signed with Warner Music and will have her own highly personalized label: Rebellionaire. “Take the ‘b’ out of billionaire and replace it with an ‘r’ for Rebel,” she quipped.

The recording group partnered with Wilson after hearing songs from her feature directorial debut The Deb, a musical set in Australia that is set to begin shooting Down Under in October.

Rebellionaire’s first release will be The Deb’s soundtrack, due out later next year with the film’s launch.

Wilson was introduced to The Deb 3½ years ago through a scholarship program that she supports at Sydney’s Australian Theatre for Young People (Atyp). “Basically, one young person wins it and then I mentor them for a year,” she explained. “And as part of it, they have to pitch a show and write the show and hopefully finish it by the end of the year.”

The...

Rebel Wilson will make her directorial debut on 'The Deb'.The 'Pitch Perfect' actress is to get behind the camera on the musical comedy that is set in rural Australia.Adapted from the hit musical of the same name, 'The Deb' follows loveable farm girl and high school outcast Taylah Simpkins who is certain that the forthcoming Debutante Ball, 'the Deb', is her big opportunity to redefine herself.Her cynical city cousin Maeve is exiled to Taylor's fictional drought-stricken town of Dunburn and thinks that the ball is a "heteronormative s***-show" prompting her to immediately disrupt the status quo.In their search for the spotlight, Taylah and Maeve dig deep to find self-acceptance and a date to the Deb.Rebel, 43, is set to co-star in the movie and will be joined by a cast of rising Australian stars including Natalie Abbott and Charlotte MacInnes.The stage production...

Rebel Wilson is set to direct her first feature, The Deb, a musical set in Australia “that brings the bush into the city.”

The Deb was written by Hannah Reilly and Meg Washington based on a stage show that Wilson championed when it premiered at Sydney’s Australian Theatre for Young People (Atyp) in 2022. Wilson revealed that she also will co-star in the film and told us that two songs not used in the stage production will be featured in the film.

Amanda Ghost, Len Blavatnik and Gregor Cameron are producing through their company Unigram (Tetris) and sister company AI Film.

Shooting on locations in Sydney and rural New South Wales starting in September, The Deb will be produced in partnership with Wilson’s Camp Sugar Productions and award-winning Australian producer Bunya Productions. Danny Cohen executive...

Rebel Wilson is getting behind the camera and has lined up her first feature as director.

The Deb, in which Wilson will also co-star, will be a musical comedy set in rural Australia, produced by Amanda Ghost, Len Blavatnik, and Gregor Cameron via their company Unigram (Tetris) and sister company AI Film (I, Tonya, Hacksaw Ridge).

Adapted from of the original hit musical of the same name — which debuted to critical acclaim in Australia — The Deb will be produced in partnership with Rebel Wilson’s Camp Sugar Productions (Senior Year, The Hustle) and award-winning Australian producer Bunya Productions (The Drover’s Wife, Mystery Road). Danny Cohen executive produces on behalf of Blavatnik’s Access Entertainment.

Originally premiering at Sydney’s Australian Theatre for Young People (Atyp) in 2022, The Deb stage production was written by Hannah Reilly (Sheilas, Growing up Gracefully) and includes original songs from singer-songwriter Meg Washington (The Beach...

Film is produced by Unigram and AI Film which recently co-financed and produced ‘Tetris’ for Apple TV+

Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson is set to direct her first feature, The Deb, a musical comedy set in rural Australia.

Based on an Australian musical, The Deb is to set to be produced by Unigram’s Amanda Ghost, Len Blavatnik, and Gregor Cameron and sister company AI Film. The two companies recently co-financed and produced Tetris with Marv Studios for Apple TV+.

The film will be produced in partnership with Rebel Wilson’s Camp Sugar Productions and Australian producer Bunya Productions,...

Rebel Wilson is directing her first feature film with musical comedy “The Deb,” a big-screen adaptation of an Australian musical set in the outback.

The film is produced by Amanda Ghost, Len Blavatnik, and Gregor Cameron via their company Unigram, which recently produced Apple TV+ movie “Tetris,” and sister outfit AI Film. The project was launched around the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, at a private event aboard billionaire investor Blavatnik’s yacht, where cast members from the Aussie musical performed a number of songs on the vessel’s upper deck.

Blavatnik, sporting a baseball cap with branding for the movie, introduced the singers, making it clear to the intimate gathering aboard his three-floor yacht that he was an enthusiastic backer of the project and, indeed, Wilson.

Variety caught up on the boat with the “Pitch Perfect” star, who also has a role in the film. “Because I’ve been...

Actress Rebel Wilson is set to make her directorial debut with an adaptation of the Australian musical of “The Deb” for Unigram, AI Film and Access Entertainment.

“The Deb,” according to the official synopsis, tells the story of “lovable farm-girl and high school outcast Taylah Simpkins, who is certain the upcoming Debutante Ball, ‘the Deb,’ is her one chance to redefine herself. When her cynical city cousin Maeve is exiled to Taylah’s drought-stricken town Dunburn, she thinks the ball is a ‘heteronormative shit-show’ and immediately disrupts the status quo. In their search for the spotlight, Taylah and Maeve dig deep to find self-acceptance — and a date to the Deb.”

The musical originally premiered at Sydney’s Australian Theatre for Young People (Atyp) in 2022, written by Hannah Reilly. It includes original songs from singer-songwriter Meg Washington.

“’The Deb’ is my type of movie — full of humour, full of heart, and...

Monica Zanetti’s screenplay of Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt), Ben Lawrence and Beatrix Christian’s Hearts and Bones and Ally Burnham’s Unsound have been nominated for best original feature in the 53rd annual Awgie Awards.

The contenders for the feature film adaptation prize are Thomas M. Wright and Erik Jensen’s Acute Misfortune, Lisa Hoppe’s H is for Happiness, Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps’ Penguin Bloom and C.S. McMullen’s The Other Lamb.

The TV series prize promises to be a close race between episodes of Glen Dolman’s Bloom, Michael Petroni’s Messiah for Netflix, Belinda Chayko’s Stateless, Samantha Strauss’ The End and Pip Karmel’s Total Control.

Timothy Hobart, John Ridley, Jeremy Nguyen, Alan Nguyen and Michele Lee’s Hungry Ghosts will square off against Matthew Cormack and Niki Aken’s The Hunting for best miniseries.

In the TV serial category it must...

The Screen Industry Gala Awards.

Despite the event itself being cancelled, Gold Coast Film Festival soldiered on with its annual Screen Industry Gala Awards last night – albeit online.

Winner of the Best Australian Film was director Kriv Stenders’ documentary on Slim Dusty’s wife Joy McKean, Slim & I. Produced by Chris Brown and Aline Jacques, the film sees McKean tell the story of her career, marriage, and her determination to be recognised as a performer and songwriter in her own right.

Indie doco Morgana, co-directed by Josie Hess and Isabel Peppard, took home the Blackmagic Design Best Australian Independent Film Award, winning a Blackmagic Pocket Camera 6K. The film follows Morgana Muses, who in her 40s was an unhappy housewife in Albury. By 50, she was a feminist pornography icon.

Post-production house The Post Lounge won the inaugural Queensland Screen Business of the Year Award and special FX makeup and prosthetics...

(L-r) Craig Silvey, Ben Young, Melissa Kelly and Ryan Hodgson, the team behind ‘Cage In the Wild’.

Monash, a drama about army officer John Monash from Bruce Beresford; a thriller from Jasper Jones author Craig Silvey and director Ben Young, Cage in the Wild; and a TV adaptation of novel The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart from Sarah Lambert and Made Up Stories are among the 21 projects to have recently received story development funding from Screen Australia.

The agency today announced seven television series, four online projects and 10 feature films will share in nearly $700,000.

Since July 2018, Screen Australia has had two strands for development funding: the Premium Fund for higher budget projects from established screen content makers, and the Generate Fund for lower budget projects with an emphasis on supporting emerging talent, or experienced talent wanting to take creative risks.

CEO Graeme Mason said: “It’s great to see such...

Rachel Griffiths, Claudia Karvan, Rachel Ward, Bryan Brown, Leah Purcell and Tracy Mann will be the presenters at the Australian Directors’ Guild Awards in Sydney on Monday May 6.

Writers-directors-performers Eliza Reilly and Hannah Reilly will host the awards at the City Recital Hall.

Warwick Thornton (Sweet Country), Joel Edgerton (Boy Erased), Garth Davis (Mary Magdalene) and Anthony Maras (Hotel Mumbai) will compete for best direction in a feature film budgeted at $1 million and above.

In the new category of best direction in a feature budgeted below $1 million, the nominees are Christopher Kay (Just Between Us), Donna McRae (Lost Gully Road), Dustin Feneley (Stray) and Jason Perini (Chasing Comets).

The awards cover the breadth of screen directing with categories across feature film, documentary, television, subscription VOD, commercial, short film, animation, online, music video and interactive media.

For the full list of nominees go here.

The post Presenters named for Australian Directors...

Dany Cooper receives the Elle from Titus Randall.

The editors of Breath, Backtrack Boys and Blue Murder: Killer Cop part 2 were among the recipients of the 2018 Ellie Awards presented by Australian Screen Editors.

Hosted by comedians Eliza and Hannah Reilly, the awards were handed out on Saturday night at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst. In addition, the veteran Edward McQueen Mason Ase was accredited by the guild.

Avid Award for Best Editing in a Feature Drama

Dany Cooper Ase – Breath – presented by Titus Randall.

Audio Network Award for Best Editing in a Documentary Feature

Andrea Lang Ase – Backtrack Boys – presented by Jess Ossington to Sally Fryer.

The Blue Post Award for Best Editing in a Drama

Bill Russo Ase – Blue Murder: Killer Cop Part 2 – presented by Rachel Knowles to Peter Crombie.

Spectrum Films Award for Best Editing in a Documentary

Sam Hart & Harriet Clutterbuck Ase – Hawke: The Larrikin and the...

Margaret Morgan, Niki Aken and Taylor Litton-Strain.

Twelve female creators have been selected for a four-day genre masterclass, hosted by Bunya Productions and taught by Us writer/producer Raelle Tucker and Canadian director Jeremy Podeswa (Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale).

The Engendered Masterclass, supported as part of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters: Brilliant Careers program, will be held next week and see participants workshop their active projects directly with Tucker and Podeswa.

“Genre is what is really cutting through on TV at the moment, so the Engendered Masterclass funded by Screen Australia represents a tremendous opportunity for female creators,” said Bunya Productions’ Greer Simpkin.

“Jeremy and Raelle are masters of delivering premium genre, and furthermore when you think of the likes of The Handmaid’s Tale and Sacred Lies, they have made dramas that have proven the creative and commercial worth of female-led storytelling.”

“The 12 Australian creators selected...