The *It Ends With Us* saga refuses to exit the group chat.
This week, a federal judge in New York set a trial date of March 2026 for the dueling lawsuits between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni — meaning Hollywood gets to marinate in this one for another year.
Lively's team had pushed for a faster timeline; the court said no.
Everyone's lawyers are billing hours either way.
If you need a refresher: Lively sued Baldoni and his production company last December, alleging sexual harassment on set and a coordinated smear campaign designed to tank her reputation.
Baldoni countersued for $400 million, accusing her and Ryan Reynolds of defamation and extortion.
Reynolds has since been pulled into the mess, with Baldoni's legal team signaling they want to depose him.
The discovery phase is where things get delicious.
Subpoenas have reportedly gone out for phone records, text messages, and behind-the-scenes footage from the film's chaotic production.
Hollywood PR firms are watching nervously — several crisis-management shops were name-dropped in the filings, and nobody in that industry wants to end up on a witness list.
As one veteran publicist told me, "Everyone's suddenly very careful about what they put in writing." Fashion note, because I can't help myself: Lively has been serving quiet-luxury courtroom-adjacent looks all year — tailored blazers, minimal jewelry, hair pulled back — while Baldoni's public appearances have leaned heavily into casual dad-core.
It's a messaging war fought in outfit choices as much as legal briefs, and both sides know the cameras never really stop rolling.
The real stakes here go beyond two celebrities.
This case has become a Rorschach test for how Hollywood handles on-set conduct complaints and the murky world of reputation management.
Studios are quietly revisiting their HR protocols.
Talent agencies are double-checking morality clauses.
They've picked teams with the intensity of a Taylor Swift ticket drop.
He's one of the most beloved figures in the industry, and his involvement raises the temperature considerably.
If he's deposed, expect headlines for weeks.
If he isn't, expect the other side to make hay of it anyway.
Either way, the internet will do what the internet does.
Meanwhile, both Lively and Baldoni have projects in various stages of development, and the industry is watching to see who blinks first.
A settlement remains possible at any point — most Hollywood lawsuits end that way — but neither camp has shown appetite for backing down.
The March 2026 date is a lifetime in news cycles, which means we'll be doing this dance for a while. **The take:** This one isn't cooling off anytime soon, and the discovery phase is where the truly unflattering details tend to surface.
Final Thoughts
Buckle up, keep your receipts, and maybe don't text your group chat anything you wouldn't want read aloud in a courtroom.