Rebel Wilson Premieres Sophomore Directorial Feature 'Girl Group' at TIFF

Rebel Wilson debuted her second directorial feature, *Girl Group*, on Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival, stepping back behind the camera following her 2024 TIFF entry *The Deb*.

In addition to directing, Wilson headlines the ensemble musical comedy as Tassie Young, a former 1990s and 2000s pop star whose career derails following a DUI arrest. After being replaced on a reunion tour by her former outfit, Gurlfriends, Tassie is ordered to complete court-mandated community service by mentoring a squad of aspiring teenage vocalists.

The narrative centers on the friction between Tassie and the young performers as conflicting musical tastes and generational divides complicate their preparation for a career-making record label showcase.

Critical reaction out of the festival proved tepid. According to a review published by TheWrap, the film struggled to balance its ensemble storytelling, leaning heavily on Wilson's lead performance while drawing unfavorable comparisons to existing music-industry comedies like Netflix's *Girls5eva*.

For Wilson, establishing a sustainable directing track record remains a critical career transition as mid-budget musical comedies navigate a cautious distribution climate. Hollywood Tomorrow notes that festival debuts for talent-driven commercial comedies function as pivotal testing grounds for securing theatrical buyers or streaming partners in a crowded marketplace.