Hopes of ending a series of legal actions against high-profile actor Rebel Wilson before the year is out are dwindling as she cops more barbs in the courtroom.
Lawyers for Wilson made an application in the Federal Court on Friday to move defamation proceedings against her to the NSW Supreme Court.
The first lawsuit centres on social media posts that claimed the star of Wilson's directorial debut, Charlotte MacInnes, was subjected to sexual harassment.
MacInnes has denied that any sexual misconduct took place.
"There was a flip-flop in what (Ms MacInnes) told Ms Wilson," her barrister Dauid Sibtain SC told the court on Friday.
The two actors were co-stars in the musical comedy The Deb, also written and directed by Wilson.
The motion to move the defamation case would align the proceedings with another case Wilson is defending related to the beleaguered film, brought by the producers.
They claim Wilson breached her contract with AI Film Production, gave misleading statements and made injurious falsehoods.
Further complicating the matter, Federal Court Justice Elizabeth Raper told the parties it was unlikely MacInnes's defamation claim could reach a hearing by the end of the year.
The case should be transferred because there are "material overlaps of issues to be determined", Mr Sibtain said.
But MacInnes's barrister, who happens to also represent the producers in their case, said uniting the cases was inappropriate.
While a witness, the younger actor was not a party to the producers' Supreme Court matter and her defamation matter was ready to proceed in the Federal Court, Sue Chrysanthou SC said.
Ms Chrysanthou said the Pitch Perfect star had continued to "malign and defame" MacInnes while the proceedings were ongoing.
The application to move the proceedings will be heard on March 6.
The Deb, a musical about a country town debutante ball, screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 but has not been seen since.
It's expected to hit Australian cinemas after Easter.
