The Australian release of Rebel Wilson's directorial debut - The Deb - was supposed to springboard the film to international success.
Instead, it floundered at the local box office and bitter fights between the Pitch Perfect star and her former colleagues drag on.
One of the producers called a document showing the film's gross Australian box office of just $335,000, from a budget of over $22 million, "depressing".
Executive producer Vince Holden told a Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday that prior to the film's delayed release in 2026 he hoped Wilson would put their already-fractured relationship aside and help with marketing and promotion.
In early 2025, the dispute between Wilson and Mr Holden - as well as other producers Gregor Cameron and Amanda Ghost - was already in court over allegedly defamatory statements the star made about the trio online.
Mr Holden said he had hoped the legal spat wouldn't distract from the film's success, telling potential distributors it was a dispute between individuals.
"I wanted to keep the best interests of the film central to whatever we did,” Mr Holden told the court.
However, Mr Holden agreed a factor in preventing the sale of the film to Wilson, who in December 2024 had offered to purchase it for $US9 million, was their personal lawsuit not having been settled.
Mr Holden rejected that he was prioritising his own interests over those of his production company AI Films in not accepting the offer from Wilson.
Various factors were at play, he said.
The court was told The Deb received significant interest for distribution rights in Australia.
But the interest was far less in North America and from streaming companies.
Mr Holden said he had hoped Australia could springboard it for broader releases elsewhere and that it was important for Wilson to engage with distributors and get behind the film.
A contract was reached with Rialto for distribution in Australia, with a significant marketing campaign and budget planned to support the release of the film.
Following its delayed release in April 2026, the film grossed just $335,000 at the Australian box office, the court was shown.
“You're showing me a very depressing document,” Mr Holden said.
The producers claim Wilson and her company Camp Sugar breached consumer law concerning misleading conduct and breached various contracts when making allegedly defamatory statements about them online in July 2024.
In a cross-claim, Wilson and Camp Sugar allege the three producers' involvement in the film was marked by a troubling pattern of illicit, egregious behaviours, including theft, bullying and sexual misconduct.
The hearing is continuing with Wilson expected to enter the witness box later in the week.
