Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni’s ‘It Ends With Us’ Lawsuit Heads to Trial

The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over the film It Ends With Us remains unresolved after a six-hour settlement conference held Wednesday in New York City. Both actors appeared in person at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, but efforts to reach an agreement proved unsuccessful.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, confirmed to reporters outside the courthouse that the case is likely headed to trial, currently scheduled to begin March 9, 2026. Freedman indicated that while a settlement could still be reached, the current trajectory points toward a courtroom showdown.

The dispute stems from allegations made by Lively in December 2024, claiming sexual harassment and the creation of an unsafe work environment during the production of It Ends With Us. She also accused Baldoni of orchestrating a smear campaign against her following a difficult press tour for the film, which is based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover. The film, released in August 2024, grossed nearly $350 million worldwide.

The legal proceedings have been complex and multi-faceted. Baldoni initially filed a January 16, 2025 countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others, alleging defamation and extortion. That lawsuit was subsequently dismissed. He also pursued a defamation claim against The New York Times, which first reported Lively’s allegations, but that claim was also dismissed in June 2025.

The case has expanded to include Baldoni’s crisis communications firm, which is facing a separate lawsuit and maintains it acted as any firm would when representing a client facing “threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources.”

Judge Lewis Liman, who is overseeing the case, has reportedly characterized the dispute as a “feud between PR firms,” highlighting the significant focus on reputation management and public image. Lively alleges she has suffered “emotional distress, humiliation, shame, and embarrassment” as a result of Baldoni’s alleged actions, and that her career has been negatively impacted.

Recent court filings revealed a network of support Lively and Reynolds leaned on as the dispute escalated. Unsealed emails and text messages showed communication with high-profile figures including Taylor Swift, Jenny Slate, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Anna Wintour. Lively reportedly sought Swift’s support in bolstering Baldoni’s perception of a script rewrite she had contributed to the film.

According to messages dated April 2023, Lively asked Swift to express enthusiasm for the film and specifically for the changes Lively had made to a pivotal rooftop scene. “If you get here w[hen] this doofus director of my movie is still here (I’ll be ushering him out, but hope he’s still here) can you do me a huge favor,” Lively allegedly wrote. “I need help with him…He’s a clown and thinks he’s a writer now and got this rewrite and told me he appreciates my passion. Thats. It. So having the greatest living story teller unknowingly echo to him how much you love what we’re doing (giving him credit as if he wrote them with me) will go such a long way.” Swift reportedly responded, “I’ll do anything for you!!”

The legal battle continues to unfold, with the trial date looming. The outcome will likely have significant implications for both Lively and Baldoni, as well as for the broader conversation surrounding workplace dynamics and power imbalances within the entertainment industry. The case underscores the potential for conflict during film production, particularly when adapting sensitive material like Colleen Hoover’s novel, which explores themes of domestic violence and emotional abuse.