Sunrise Films will release THE DEB on major U.S. digital platforms on August 25, with a UK digital release on August 24 via Vertigo Releasing.
THE DEB, a musical comedy directed by Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect, Bridesmaids) — marking her long‑awaited debut behind the camera. The film stars Natalie Abbott (A Perfect Pairing, Aftertaste), Charlotte MacInnes (North Shore), emerging actor/singer Stevie Jean, Tara Morice (Strictly Ballroom), actor/writer Steph Tisdell, award‑winning actor Shane Jacobson (Kenny, The Bourne Legacy), and Rebel Wilson herself in a scene‑stealing supporting role.
Based on the acclaimed stage musical by writer Hannah Reilly, THE DEB features original songs by Meg Washington and choreography by Emmy winner Rob Ashford (The 81st Academy Awards, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Evita, Cinderella).
Synopsis
Taylah Simpkins (Abbott), a lovable farm girl and high‑school outcast, is convinced that the upcoming Debutante Ball — “the Deb” — is her one chance to reinvent herself. When her sharp‑tongued city cousin Maeve (MacInnes) is exiled to Taylah’s drought‑stricken town of Dunburn, she has one opinion about the ball: it’s a “heteronormative shit‑show.”
As the cousins clash and reluctantly team up, they discover that the path to the spotlight runs straight through the messy truth of who they really are.
Overflowing with outrageously funny, foul‑mouthed earworm songs, wildly inventive choreography, and irresistible young talent, THE DEB is a celebration of self‑acceptance, small‑town Australia, and the transformative power of a sequined gown. In the tradition of Muriel’s Wedding and Strictly Ballroom, it’s a distinctly, defiantly Australian film with universal heart.
