A New York federal judge has scheduled a trial for March 2026 as the legal battle between actress Blake Lively and her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, continues to escalate.
In a move reflecting the intensifying public feud, Judge Lewis J. Liman also advanced an initial conference from mid-February to next week, ordering both parties to be prepared to discuss concerns regarding pretrial publicity and the conduct of attorneys involved in the case.
The lawsuit, which has drawn widespread media attention, centers on allegations of defamation, harassment, and reputational harm between the two Hollywood figures.
In addition to the trial date, a separate legal development has emerged in Texas, where Lively has filed a request for a deposition of Jed Wallace, a crisis management specialist.
Lively claims Wallace played a central role in orchestrating an online campaign that damaged her reputation during the film’s promotional period. The new filing adds another layer to the ongoing legal drama, suggesting that the dispute extends beyond the courtroom and into the realm of digital influence and social media manipulation.
Judge Liman’s decision to expedite the initial conference comes in response to Lively’s legal team accusing Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, of attempting to sway public opinion and potential jurors.
According to Lively’s lawyers, Freedman launched a website designed to selectively release communications and documents between Lively and Baldoni. This move, they argue, was intended to damage Lively’s credibility and unfairly influence the legal proceedings before they even begin.
Lively’s attorneys further stated in their Monday filing that Freedman’s actions were an intentional attempt to “wreck” their client’s career. They asserted that the public release of selective information was an “extrajudicial campaign” designed to manipulate both the court of law and public perception.
They warned that the dissemination of misleading or defamatory material posed a real risk of tainting the jury pool ahead of the trial, which is now set for March 9, 2026.
Responding to these allegations, Freedman dismissed the claims as an attempt by Lively to suppress the truth. In a statement, he argued that his client had nothing to hide and was merely trying to ensure that all relevant evidence—including text messages and video footage—was made available to counter the accusations.
Freedman stated, “We will always respect the court; however, we will never be bullied by those suggesting we cannot defend our clients with pure, unedited facts.”
The escalating legal conflict has also seen Baldoni’s legal team pushing back against Lively’s accusations. In a letter addressed to Judge Liman last Thursday, Baldoni’s attorney, Kevin Fritz, accused Lively of using a media campaign to vilify his client.
According to Fritz, the negative press surrounding Baldoni has led to financial and reputational damages amounting to “hundreds of millions of dollars.” He further claimed that Baldoni and others involved in the case had been “exiled from polite society” due to what he described as Lively’s “scorched-earth media campaign.”
Meanwhile, in the separate filing in Hays County, Texas, Lively has taken steps to legally compel Wallace to provide a deposition. She alleges that Wallace played a pivotal role in spreading negative content about her on social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit.
The filing claims that Wallace, operating through his Texas-based firm, Street Relations, worked as a subcontractor for publicists linked to Baldoni and his production company.
Lively’s legal team argues that Wallace used his influence to “weaponize a digital army” and manipulate online narratives against her. They claim that his efforts created a false impression of widespread negative sentiment, ultimately damaging her professional and personal reputation. Although Wallace is mentioned in Lively’s federal lawsuit, he is not currently listed as a defendant in the case.
Freedman, who is also said to be representing Wallace, has yet to issue a response regarding Lively’s claims against his client. However, his previous statements suggest that Baldoni’s legal team will continue to challenge the allegations and push for more evidence to be made public.
Given the already contentious nature of the case, Wallace’s potential deposition could introduce new revelations that impact both Lively’s and Baldoni’s legal strategies.
The high-profile lawsuit began in December 2024, when Lively filed a case against Baldoni, his production company, and other associated parties. She accused them of sexual harassment, defamation, and other forms of professional misconduct, seeking unspecified damages.
In response, Baldoni filed a countersuit in early 2025, accusing Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. Baldoni’s lawsuit seeks at least $400 million in damages, adding another layer of complexity to the dispute.
On Monday, Judge Liman indicated that he would likely consolidate both lawsuits into a single trial. If this decision is finalized, it will mean that the court will hear both parties’ claims together, allowing for a more comprehensive examination of the allegations and counterclaims.
The move could significantly shape the direction of the case, as it forces both sides to confront each other’s arguments in a unified legal setting.
The controversy surrounding “It Ends With Us” has cast a shadow over what was initially a highly anticipated film adaptation. The movie, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, was released in August 2024 and exceeded box office expectations with an impressive $50 million opening.
However, rumors of behind-the-scenes conflict between Lively and Baldoni have dominated discussions surrounding the film, overshadowing its financial success.
Lively, who rose to fame through films like “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series “Gossip Girl,” has maintained a strong presence in Hollywood for nearly two decades.
Over the years, she has starred in critically acclaimed films such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.” Her involvement in “It Ends With Us” was expected to further solidify her status as a leading actress in the industry.
Baldoni, best known for his role in “Jane the Virgin,” has transitioned into directing and producing in recent years. In addition to his work on “It Ends With Us,” he directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart” and authored the book “Man Enough,” which explores modern masculinity.
His dual role as both an actor and director in “It Ends With Us” placed him at the center of the film’s promotional efforts, making the fallout with Lively all the more significant.
As the case heads toward trial in 2026, both Lively and Baldoni will have to navigate the legal and public relations challenges that have emerged from their dispute. With allegations of defamation, harassment, and social media manipulation now in play, the case is poised to be one of the most closely watched legal battles in Hollywood in recent years.
The outcome could have lasting implications not only for the parties involved but also for how legal disputes are handled in the entertainment industry.
