The highly publicized legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over their film “It Ends With Us” is headed to court next year.
Federal Judge Lewis J. Liman has scheduled the trial for March 9, 2026, with a pre-trial hearing set for Feb. 3, according to court documents.
The two stars, embroiled in a series of lawsuits and countersuits, are taking their disputes to a New York federal court. Lively, 37, filed a $250 million lawsuit last month, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign. Baldoni, 41, responded with a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.
Judge Liman has announced plans to consolidate the lawsuits, streamlining the legal proceedings. However, both sides remain entrenched, with little indication of a potential settlement.
The ongoing drama includes Lively’s request for a gag order against Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, after he released behind-the-scenes footage from the movie to refute Lively’s claims. Lively and Reynolds’ legal team has also accused Freedman of attempting to sway public opinion, prompting the judge to expedite the pre-trial hearing.
Freedman, meanwhile, has stood firm, declaring Baldoni’s team won’t be “bullied” and hinting at plans to launch a website supporting Baldoni’s case.
Lively’s lawsuit targets Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and several associates, alleging harassment and a subsequent public relations smear campaign. Baldoni has vehemently denied these allegations, countersuing Lively, Reynolds, and their public relations team for defamation and civil extortion.
In a statement, Lively’s legal team criticized Baldoni’s defense as an attack on her character, stating, “The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”
Adding another layer to the feud, Baldoni has also filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for libel, accusing the outlet of misrepresenting Lively’s allegations in its reporting.
While legal experts predict a protracted battle, all eyes will be on the courtroom next year as Lively and Baldoni prepare to face off. Whether the trial proceeds or is delayed by further legal wrangling, the stakes for both stars remain exceptionally high.
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