Rebel Wilson Makes Directorial Debut With THE DEB – A Newcomer Musical Comedy Set in the Outback

Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids, Pitch perfect) is making his directorial debut with the musical comedy The debt, the big screen adaptation of an Australian debutante musical set in the outback. The project was launched around the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, at a private event aboard billionaire investor Blavatnik’s yacht, where cast members from the Australian musical performed a series of songs on the ship’s upper deck.

Wilson, who also has a role in the film, said of the upcoming project:

“Because I’ve been on set and done so many musicals, you kind of learn things like shooting a musical number and how to score it, because you’re there and you’re a part of it. I always just looked as an actress — looking, looking, looking — and then I produced a lot of things with musical numbers, like ‘Senior Year’ on Netflix, which had a lot of cheerleading routines. Everyone kept saying, ‘You should direct!’ … I’ve just started getting offers of films to direct from the studios, so I was like, ‘Oh my God, if I’m going to take a year out of my life and not be an actress and be a director, it has to be something I’m hugely passionate about. .’”

Originally premiering at the Australian Theater for Young People in Sydney in 2022, The debt the stage production was written by Hanna Reilly (Sheila) and includes original songs by the singer-songwriter Big Washington (The beach).

The musical follows lovable country girl and high school outcast Taylah Simpkins (Natalie Abbott), who is certain the upcoming Debutante Ball, dubbed “the Deb,” is her only chance to redefine herself. When his cynical town cousin Maeve (Charlotte MacInnes) is exiled to Taylah’s drought-stricken town of 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 with Deb.

The adaptation will feature a cast of rising Australian stars including Charlotte MacInnes, who played Maeve in the Australian musical; award-winning Natalie Abbott; and Stevie Jean. Other Australian talents in film include Tara Morice, Jay Laga’aia, Shane Jacobson and Wilson.

Production will begin in Australia in September.

via: variety