Rebel Wilson sued by producers as chaos erupts over harassment scandal and film rights

Rebel Wilson faces a lawsuit over sabotaging her own film's release while fighting misconduct claims.

Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb, has ignited a full-blown legal war, with the film’s producers now accusing the actress of derailing distribution plans in order to seize control of the project. The production company AI Film filed a lawsuit in Australia this week, alleging Wilson intentionally undermined negotiations to buy the rights to the film herself, all while stoking a firestorm of harassment claims.

According to the complaint, a prospective distributor backed out after Wilson allegedly threatened legal action to block the film’s release. AI Film claims Wilson’s actions were designed to torpedo the deal and shift blame to the producers, all while she was negotiating privately to acquire the film outright.

The controversy stems from Wilson’s public claims last year that she discovered serious misconduct involving lead actress Charlotte MacInnes and financial mishandling during production. The producers responded by suing her for defamation, alleging that the accusations were timed to boost Wilson’s profile and help her gain a writing credit, as well as a coveted premiere slot at the Toronto International Film Festival. Wilson countered with her own legal action, repeating allegations of sexual harassment and theft, which MacInnes has publicly denied.

Now, AI Film alleges Wilson misled other collaborators, telling them the company was responsible for stalled distribution and hiring a crisis PR firm to spin the narrative. They argue it’s Wilson’s own damaging comments and interference that have blocked the film from reaching audiences. Her legal team reportedly confirmed she is in talks to purchase The Deb and threatened legal retaliation if obstructed.

Wilson maintains she wants the film released, blaming MacInnes for ‘lies’ and claiming the project has been sabotaged from within. In a scathing post on the film’s Instagram, she wrote that the 300 people who worked on The Deb deserve better.