Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ‘It Ends With Us’ legal battle heads to trial in March 2026

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s lawsuits over misconduct and defamation claims are set for trial in March 2026.

The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is heating up, with a trial date now set for March 9, 2026, according to an order filed by Judge Lewis J. Liman in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The lawsuit stems from allegations by Lively, 37, who accused Baldoni, 41, and several associates at Wayfarer Studios of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign in retaliation for her speaking out about misconduct. Baldoni, in turn, has filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation and extortion.

Lively’s legal team has dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit as “meritless” and “desperate,” while Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has called her allegations “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.”

A pre-trial hearing to address Lively’s prospective request for a gag order, originally scheduled for February 12, has been moved up to February 3.

The legal drama surrounding the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us is drawing comparisons to other high-profile celebrity trials. Legal experts speculate the case may settle before reaching court, given that over 90% of civil cases do not proceed to trial.

However, with accusations and counterclaims continuing to escalate, this high-profile legal clash is expected to remain a focal point for both fans and media outlets in the months leading up to the trial.