Rebel Wilson should receive $A5.9 million in special damages to make up for lost film opportunities after defamatory articles branded her a serial liar, her lawyers say.
The “extremely conservative” claim by her defence follows the star’s defamation win against gossip magazine publisher Bauer Media last week.
“There’s certainly a degree of art and a degree of guesswork involved,” Wilson’s barrister Matt Collins QC told the Victorian Supreme Court.
Hollywood agent and producer Peter Principato – a 20-year industry veteran with 50 clients – said Wilson was the hottest name being tossed around after the success of her film Pitch Perfect 2.
“Rebel was one of those actors that every studio was … trying to find projects for,” he told the court via videolink on Wednesday.
Wilson could have commanded $US5 million to $US6 million a film, plus box office bonuses, following the Pitch Perfect 2 movie’s success, Mr Principato said.
The figure was double the estimated $US2 million to $US3 million fellow comic actor Amy Schumer could command at that time, he said.
Besides roles in the films Snatched, starring Schumer, and Bad Moms – which Wilson rejected – Mr Principato said Wilson was also suitable to star in Ghostbusters.