Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Hollywood star Rebel Wilson wanted to make her directorial debut The Deb worthless so she could get it for herself for “nothing”, a court has been told.
The NSW Supreme Court was told the Australian-born actor repeatedly lied about the producers of the film and tried to stop the film being sold to others so she could buy it herself at a lesser price.
Barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC, said while her client AI Film Productions was trying to sell the film, Ms Wilson was making maliciously false statements about the behaviour of producers Vince Holden, Gregor Cameron and his wife Amanda Ghost.
“Her only motive must have been to make the movie so worthless to my clients that she could get it for nothing … or let her have it to put an end to the public harassment which included accusations of criminal conduct,” Ms Chrysanthou said.
She told the court Ms Wilson told the sales agent WME prior to The Deb’s TIFF premiere to stop trying to sell the film “to devalue it at the time to buy it at a lesser price”.
AI Film is suing Ms Wilson for breaching contracts by sabotaging and undermining the release of the musical comedy in which she also starred by publishing false and derogatory statements causing the company financial and reputational damage.
On July 10, 2024, Ms Wilson posted on Instagram allegations including that the producers had acted inappropriately towards the lead actor Charlotte MacInnes and embezzled money from the project.
The producers launched defamation proceedings in the US, with Ms Wilson filing a countersuit after the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2024.
Ms Chrysanthou said Ms Wilson engaged in a media campaign to make the details of her cross claim as public as possible to pressure the producers “to sell the film for less than what it was worth”.
The court was told Ms Wilson had made three offers to buy the film, at first for $11m, then $9m and then $3m. None of the offers ultimately proceeded or were accepted.
Ms Wilson and her company Camp Sugar is countersuing AI Film alleging Ms Ghost, Mr Cameron and Mr Holden’s involvement in the film was marked by a pattern of illicit egregious behaviours, including theft, bullying and sexual misconduct.
Ms Wilson claims Ms Ghost broke verbal agreements over writing credits and a soundtrack album deal and Mr Cameron and Mr Holden embezzled $900,000 from a joint venture company set up to make the film.
