Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson had a “last chance” phone call with the co-producers of her directorial debut, The Deb, over a disagreement about costs and her $1 million fee, a judge has heard. Wilson, best known for Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids, appeared in a Sydney courtroom earlier this week as part of a legal battle tied to the musical comedy, which was delayed after a falling-out with the producers. The film was originally set for a 2024 release but was postponed due to the dispute. The producers—Vince Holden, Gregor Cameron, and Amanda Ghost—allege that Wilson and her company, Camp Sugar, violated consumer law by making misleading statements about them on social media, particularly on Instagram, where Wilson has 11 million followers. They claim Wilson accused the producers of inappropriate behavior toward the film’s lead actress, financial misconduct, and attempting to block the film’s release. Wilson, in turn, has filed a counterclaim, accusing the producers of a “troubling pattern” of unethical behavior, including theft, bullying, and sexual misconduct. She also claims that Ghost breached verbal agreements related to writing credits and a soundtrack deal, while Cameron and Holden allegedly stole $900,000 from a joint venture company created to fund the film. During the court hearing, Holden, representing the production company AI Film Production Limited, discussed a series of emails about the film’s budget and financing. He confirmed that in October 2023, he requested a “last-chance call” with Wilson regarding the rising production costs and her offer to reduce her fee to $1 million. He said Wilson was not pleased with the proposed increase in fees but did not express strong emotional reactions. Holden also stated that after cutting off further funding, he told the other producers, “the clock has stopped ticking and I’m waiting for the boom.” He explained that AI Film had invested heavily in the film, with an initial plan of a $15 million investment, but the budget eventually rose to over $20 million. The legal battle centers on whether Wilson’s actions caused financial harm to the producers, including the loss of a potential distributor and reputational damage. Wilson was initially supposed to receive six percent of the film’s budget, split evenly with AI Film. The Deb was finally released in April 2026, with estimates predicting either a loss or a multimillion-dollar profit, depending on its performance. The film’s revenue projections were based on similar Australian-themed musical comedies like Pitch Perfect and Muriel’s Wedding, which were successful in the pre-streaming era. The court hearing is ongoing, following a high-profile defamation case earlier this year involving Wilson and the film’s lead actress, Charlotte MacInnes, which was dismissed by a judge in July.