Hollywood is messy. We all know that, but the fallout from It Ends With Us took things to a level of legal insanity that even a seasoned PR veteran couldn't have scripted. If you've been following the Ryan Reynolds Justin Baldoni lawsuit saga, you know it’s more than just a case of "creative differences." It's a full-blown war involving $400 million demands, secret recordings, and allegations that make the actual movie look like a lighthearted sitcom.
Honestly, the whole thing felt like a fever dream. One minute we’re watching Blake Lively promote hair care products and floral arrangements, and the next, there are federal filings alleging sexual harassment and "creative hijacking."
The $400 Million Question
Let’s get the big numbers out of the way first. In early 2025, Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, hit back with a massive $400 million lawsuit. They didn't just go after Blake Lively; they dragged Ryan Reynolds and their powerhouse publicist Leslie Sloane into the line of fire.
Baldoni’s core argument? He claimed he was the victim of a sophisticated smear campaign designed to "assassinate his character."
The lawsuit alleged that Ryan Reynolds—who wasn't even officially on the cast—basically took over the production. According to Baldoni’s legal team, Reynolds allegedly called Baldoni a "sexual predator" in front of the crew after a heated confrontation about Lively’s comfort on set. That’s a heavy accusation. It’s the kind of thing that ends a career in seconds.
Why Ryan Reynolds got dragged into it
You might be wondering why a guy who was busy filming Deadpool & Wolverine ended up as a primary defendant. Basically, Baldoni claimed Reynolds used his massive industry "god status" to bully Wayfarer Studios and freeze Baldoni out of his own movie.
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There were reports of a "traumatic" meeting where Reynolds allegedly tearfully confronted Baldoni over "fat-shaming" comments made toward Lively (who had recently given birth). Baldoni denies this was ever the intent, but the damage was done. By the time the movie hit theaters, Baldoni was doing press solo while the rest of the cast acted like he didn't exist.
The Court's Final Word (For Now)
If you’re looking for a dramatic courtroom showdown where Ryan Reynolds takes the stand, you might be disappointed. In June 2025, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman threw a massive bucket of cold water on Baldoni’s claims.
The judge dismissed the $400 million defamation suit against Reynolds and Lively.
Why? Because in the eyes of the law, Lively's initial accusations of sexual harassment were "legally protected." In simple terms, you can't usually sue someone for defamation over statements they make in a legal complaint or during a civil rights investigation. The court basically said that even if Baldoni felt smeared, the "litigation privilege" meant the case couldn't move forward.
The November 2025 Update
By November 2, 2025, the Ryan Reynolds Justin Baldoni lawsuit hit another dead end. Baldoni missed a critical court-imposed deadline to amend his claims. Judge Liman officially closed the case, noting that the plaintiffs failed to respond to orders.
It was a quiet end to a very loud year.
What the Unsealed Texts Revealed
Even though the big lawsuit was dismissed, the discovery process leaked some wild details. Just this month, in January 2026, unsealed text messages gave us a window into the total "clusterf***" (Baldoni’s words, not mine) that was the set of It Ends With Us.
- The "Trap" Theory: Baldoni texted his agent in December 2023 saying he felt Lively was "setting him up for a trap."
- The Sex Scene Dispute: Apparently, Lively refused to use a body double for intimate scenes but demanded that Baldoni use one for himself.
- 17 Protections: Before filming resumed after the strikes, Lively allegedly presented a list of 17 "stipulations" she needed to feel safe on set.
The tension was thick. You’ve got a director trying to follow a book’s darker themes and a star who—according to the filings—wanted to rewrite the script, change the wardrobe, and bring in her own editors.
Is the Drama Actually Over?
Not quite. While Baldoni’s $400 million "counter-attack" is dead in the water, Blake Lively’s original suit against Baldoni is still chugging along.
As of right now, that trial is set for May 18, 2026.
This side of the battle focuses on Lively's allegations of a hostile work environment and inappropriate comments. She claims Baldoni lingered too long during a hug and made comments about her "smelling good" in a way that made her skin crawl. Baldoni's team calls this a "salacious" attempt to fix her PR image after she was criticized for being tone-deaf during the movie's promo tour.
The Taylor Swift Connection
Yes, even Taylor Swift got pulled into this. In May 2025, Baldoni tried to subpoena Swift’s text messages with Lively. He claimed Lively was "blackmailing" Swift with private info to get her public support. The court actually granted him access to some of those texts, which is a bizarre crossover nobody saw coming.
What This Means for You
If you're a fan of the book or the actors, this whole mess is a cautionary tale about power dynamics in "New Hollywood." It shows that even the most "likable" stars can get caught in a legal meat grinder when creative control goes off the rails.
Key Takeaways:
- The Big Lawsuit is Gone: Justin Baldoni's $400 million suit against Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively has been dismissed.
- Ryan Reynolds is Legally Clear: For now, Reynolds is no longer a defendant in the defamation battle.
- Watch the May 2026 Trial: This is where the actual evidence of "hostile work environment" will be tested.
- PR is Strategy: Both sides used the media to frame their narrative long before a judge ever saw the files.
The best thing you can do is stay skeptical of the "perfect" stories you see on red carpets. Behind every floral dress and witty Deadpool joke, there’s a team of lawyers and a mountain of unsealed text messages waiting for their day in court.
I can help you track the specific dates for the May 2026 trial or find the latest updates on Blake Lively's subpoenas for Wayfarer Studios' financial records.