Rebel Wilson ‘deliberately undermined' her own film, new lawsuit claims
A.I's legal team, Patrick George, Jeremy Marel and barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, allege in filings that Wilson knowingly spread false information online and breached her contractual duties, effectively blocking the film's launch.
'Wilson threatened the Australian distributor of the film that she would obtain an injunction to prevent its release, when the contractual documents plainly prevented her from obtaining an injunction,' the lawsuit documents obtained by the Herald allege.
'As a result of that threat, the Australian distributor withdrew its proposal to distribute the film.'
A major part of the long-running battle over The Deb is Wilson's public allegations of sexual misconduct by a producer towards MacInnes in a Bondi penthouse.
'Making false accusations undermines real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative.'
The Deb star Charlotte MacInnes
MacInnes, according to the lawsuit, has denied any misconduct took place.
'Making false accusations undermines real victims and I won't be the subject of a fabricated narrative,' MacInnes is quoted as saying in the lawsuit.
But in September last year, Wilson allegedly used the official Instagram account of The Deb to double down on the claims, saying a producer asked MacInnes to shower with them.
'The fact this girl has been employed now by this 'producer' in the lead role of production … and given a record label – should be all the proof you need as to why she has now changed her story,' Wilson wrote.
In May this year, Wilson allegedly accused the 25-year-old lead actress of lies and supporting the producers, after she was filmed singing Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club aboard a billionaire's yacht at the Cannes Film Festival.
'Charlotte MacInnes in a culturally inappropriate Indian outfit on Len Blavatnik's luxury yacht in Cannes – ironically singing a song from a movie that will never get released because of her lies and support for the people blocking the film's release,' Wilson allegedly wrote.
'So glad you got your record deal Charlotte at the expense of the 300 people who worked on The Deb and really wanna see it released.'
On Thursday, MacInnes told the Herald she just wants The Deb to be released.
'I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released. It would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen,' MacInnes said in a statement.
The Australian lawsuit is seeking damages, an apology and corrective advertising at the expense of Wilson or her company, Camp Sugar.
Sources close to the case believe the dispute overshadowing the film is tied to the Australian Writers Guild's (AWG) choice not to award Wilson a writing credit for the film.
The Deb was written for the stage by Hannah Reilly, and it was Reilly who received the sole screenplay credit for the film.
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Lawyers in the US defamation case say Wilson's 'obsession with taking credit … at the expense of young, talented women' has morphed into a smear campaign against others working on the film.
'What followed [the Australian Writers Guild ruling] has been a series of personal attacks and false accusations, most recently targeting Charlotte – who I cast in the original stage production,' Reilly told Variety Australia this year.
A.I Film told the Herald that the movie, and the hard work of the hundreds involved, should be seen 'far and wide'.
'These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb 's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it,' the A.I statement read.
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