Rebel Wilson Returns to Court Over “The Deb” Dispute

Rebel Wilson and her company Camp Sugar are facing a lawsuit in the New South Wales Supreme Court in Sydney. Co-producers Vince Holden, Gregor Cameron and Amanda Ghost allege that Wilson breached consumer law and multiple contracts while directing the musical comedy *The Deb*. The producers claim Wilson made defamatory statements to her 11 million Instagram followers in July 2024, accusing them of inappropriate conduct toward the film’s lead actor, embezzling funds, and obstructing the film’s release. In a cross-claim, Wilson and Camp Sugar contend that the producers engaged in “theft, bullying and sexual misconduct,” that Ghost broke verbal agreements over writing credits and a soundtrack deal, and that Cameron and Holden misappropriated $900,000 from a joint-venture company created for the film.

The Guardian

*The Deb* was shelved in 2024 after Wilson’s fallout with the producers. A separate defamation trial in May 2026 involved Australian actor Charlotte MacInnes, who alleged Wilson defamed her in four social-media posts; a judge dismissed the case in July 2026. The current equity case follows those proceedings and focuses on the film’s financing and distribution disputes.

The Guardian

Wilson’s contract gave her a 6 percent fee of the film’s budget, shared 50-50 with AI Film Production Limited. The producers say Wilson offered to reduce her acting and directing fee to $1 million, while AI Film advanced “considerable funds” to keep production on schedule. Holden testified that AI Film initially risked $15 million on Wilson as a first-time director, a figure that later rose to over $20 million. The producers argue that the budget overruns caused economic loss, a potential distributor’s withdrawal, and reputational damage. *The Deb*—released in April 2026—has revenue projections ranging from a $4.5 million loss to a break-even point or multimillion-dollar profit, based on historic Australian successes such as *Pitch Perfect* and *Muriel’s Wedding*.

The Guardian

Producers’ representatives claim Wilson’s alleged defamatory posts and fee negotiations breached contractual obligations, leading to the lawsuit. Wilson’s barrister, Dauid Sibtain SC, questioned Holden about the “last-chance call” in October 2023 and the escalation of fees from $300,000 to more than $650,000 plus finance costs. The court heard that AI Film had “advanced considerable funds” without a final fee agreement, and that the risk increased as the budget grew.

The Guardian

• “You accepted that $15m was a lot of money to risk on a first-time director, do you agree?” — Dauid Sibtain

The Guardian

• “They were all breakout successes but some of them came out 15 to 30 years ago,” — Dauid Sibtain

The Guardian