There will be no deal. No quiet resolution. No handshake across a courtroom table. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are going to trial - and at this point, nothing is going to stop it.
After more than a year of lawsuits, counterlawsuits, leaked texts, and courtroom drama, the battle between the It Ends With Us co-stars is officially heading to a jury. Trial is set for May 18, 2026 in New York federal court.
Settlement Talks Went Nowhere
A federal magistrate judge ordered both legal teams to call in and share their clients' updated settlement positions - but both sides rejected every deal presented. This wasn't the first attempt. Back in February, Lively and Baldoni spent six hours inside a New York City courtroom in a court-ordered settlement conference - talking in separate rooms, with a judge shuttling between them - and still walked away without an agreement. With every off-ramp now closed, a jury will decide what happens next.
Where the Case Stands
The lawsuit has been significantly trimmed down. Federal Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed 10 of Lively's 13 claims, including sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy - but allowed three claims to proceed: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation.
Lively's team was clear about why the harassment claims were dropped. Her lawyer Sigrid McCawley stated that the sexual harassment claims were not dismissed because the defendants did nothing wrong, but because the court determined Lively was an independent contractor rather than an employee - a legal technicality that stripped away the protections she was seeking.
The heart of what goes to trial is Lively's claim that Baldoni and his crisis PR team ran a coordinated online smear campaign against her after she raised concerns on set - a campaign she says cost her over $160 million in damages.
Ryan Reynolds Breaks His Silence
Speaking to Today on April 19, Ryan Reynolds made a rare comment on the case, saying: "I've never in my life been more proud of my wife." He added, "People have no idea what's really going on." Both Reynolds and Lively are expected to testify when the trial begins.
Baldoni's legal team has maintained throughout that they are not afraid of what the evidence shows and look forward to presenting their defense in court.
The Bigger Picture
Whatever the verdict, this case has already forced an uncomfortable conversation about power, retaliation, and what it actually costs someone - professionally and personally - to speak up.
The courtroom doors open May 18. The world will be watching.
Related Article: Blake Lively's Case Against Justin Baldoni Takes Unexpected Turn as Judge Dismisses Majority of Claims
