The Deb (film)
| The Deb | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Rebel Wilson |
| Screenplay by | Hannah Reilly and Rebel Wilson |
| Based on | The Deb by Hannah Reilly |
| Produced by | Gregor Cameron Amanda Ghost David Jowsey Greer Simpkin Rebel Wilson executive Danny Cohen Vince Holden Megan Washington |
| Starring | Natalie Abbott, Charlotte MacInnes, Stevie Jean, Shane Jacobson, Tara Morice and Rebel Wilson |
| Cinematography | Ross Emery |
| Edited by | Jane Moran |
| Music by | Megan Washington |
Production companies | Bunya Productions Camp Sugar Productions Unigram |
Release date | |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
The Deb is a 2024 Australian musical film directed by Rebel Wilson based on the stage musical of the same name.[1]
Premise
[edit]From the Screen Australia website: "The Deb follows 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."[2]
Cast
[edit]- Natalie Abbott
- Charlotte MacInnes
- Tara Morice
- Rebel Wilson
- Shane Jacobson
Production
[edit]The stage show premiered in 2022. Filming commenced in September 2023.[3]
Wilson was inspired by Australian films such as The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Muriel's Wedding. “I really like seeing my culture on screen,” he sauid. “[Those films are] very seminal to me and I really wanted to create a movie that was like the modern version of those. Those movies have such charm, they’re so colourful, and they’re very funny. And they have real heart to them.”[4]
Premiere
[edit]The film is to premiere on 15 September 2024 as the closing film of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.[5]
Controversy
[edit]Wilson accused some of the film's producers of blocking the movie's debut at the Toronto Film Festival, further accusing them - specially Amanda Ghost, Gregory Cameron and Vince Holden - of "bad behavior" including "inappropriate behavior towards the lead actress of the film" and "embezzling funds from the film’s budget" along with "absolute viciousness and retaliatory behavior." These claims were denied by the producers in question.[6]
The producers subsequently launched legal action against Wilson for defamation, claiming, among other things, that Wilson tried to take credit on the film for which she was not entitled.[7] Wilson then attacked billionaire Financier Len Blavatnik claiming he was supporting the producers.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony. "Rebel Wilson's 'The Deb' Set As TIFF Closing-Night Pic Despite Filmmaker Uproar; 'Nutcrackers' With Ben Stiller Opening Fest". Deadline. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ "The Deb 2024 Upcoming Production Report". Screen Australia. 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Bamigboye, Baz (24 May 2023). "Rebel Wilson Makes A Splash In Cannes Announcing Her Feature Film Directing Debut 'The Deb' Will Shoot Down Under In September". Deadline. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (24 May 2023). "Rebel Wilson Directing Her First Movie 'The Deb,' An Australian Musical Comedy About a Debutante Ball Set in the Outback". Variety. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Swift, Brendan (17 July 2024). "Rebel Wilson's 'The Deb' now set to close TIFF despite ongoing dispute with producers". If Magazine. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike (10 July 2024). "Rebel Wilson Wallops Backers Of Her Directing Debut 'The Deb' For Nixing Pic From Toronto Berth; Producers Call Claims "False, Defamatory And Disappointing" – Update". Deadline. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Millman, Ethan (12 July 2024). "Producers Sue 'Bully' Rebel Wilson for Defamation Over Embezzlement, Misconduct Claims". Rolling Stone magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Siegel, Tatiana (31 July 2024). "Rebel Wilson Strikes Back at Producers of Her Directorial Debut With Fiery Statement Aimed at Billionaire Financier Len Blavatnik". Variety. Retrieved 7 August 2024.