'The Deb'

Source: John Platt

‘The Deb’

EXCLUSIVE: The UK’s Protagonist Pictures has boarded Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut The Deb and landed a UK-Ireland deal with Vertigo Releasing.

Protagonist represents world sales, excluding Australia-New Zealand, and will be introducing the musical comedy to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market. Rialto has previously signed a deal for Australia-New Zealand, and has a wide theatrical release set for January 15, 2026.

Vertigo Releasing has also acquired all rights for UK-Ireland and is looking to release the film in early 2026.

Natalie Abbott, Charlotte MacInnes and Stevie Jean star opposite Wilson in this fish-out-of-water comedy, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, and follows a loveable farm girl and high-school outcast who is certain the upcoming debutante ball, ‘the Deb,’ is her one chance to redefine herself – until her cousin comes to town with other ideas. 



The film has had a difficult journey to market to date, following a series of legal dramas between Wilson and both the film’s producers and star MacInnes, spanning Australia and the US, with Wilson and the producers accusing each other of deliberately sabotaging the film’s release.

The Deb is a co-production between Len Blavatnik, Gregor Cameron and Amanda Ghost for the UK’s AI Film and Unigram and David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin for Australia’s Bunya Productions, plus Wilson’s Camp Sugar. Executive producers are Vince Holden, Meg Washington and Kevin Whyte. Matt Reeder co-produces.


The Deb was shot on location in Australia’s New South Wales with the assistance of Screen NSW’s Made in NSW fund and the Producer Offset administered by Screen Australia.

“At Protagonist Pictures, we believe in films that combine a bold local voice with global appeal – The Deb does just that. We’re proud to take on worldwide sales and bring this joyful, heartfelt story to audiences around the world,” said Protagonist Pictures CEO Dave Bishop.

“We’re thrilled to be launching in 2026 this joyfully fun and exuberant musical that will entertain and energise audiences across the UK,” added Rupert Preston, CEO of Vertigo Releasing.

“It’s a testament to the strength of the film that The Deb has found such strong distribution partners with Vertigo Releasing in the UK and Protagonist Pictures handling worldwide sales,” said executive producer Vince Holden of AI Film. “This film has global appeal.” 

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