The legal battle between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively continues to escalate, now bringing major players from the entertainment industry into the fold. On January 7, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, issued a litigation hold letter to key figures at Disney and Marvel, including Marvel President Kevin Feige and Disney CEO Bob Iger. The letter demands that all relevant documents be preserved in connection with Baldoni’s anticipated legal claims involving Ryan Reynolds, Lively, and other unnamed individuals.
While Baldoni’s legal conflict with Lively centers on the film It Ends With Us, which was released by Sony and not Disney, Baldoni’s lawyer believes that a scene in the recent Marvel film Deadpool & Wolverine contains an intentional mockery of Baldoni by Reynolds. The scene features Reynolds as an alternate version of Deadpool called “Nicepool,” who makes comments about intimacy coordinators and compliments the character of Ladypool, played by Lively, for “snapping back” after childbirth.
Lively has accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her and fat-shaming her post-partum body during the making of It Ends With Us. The “Nicepool” character’s lines, including a remark about Lively’s character, “She just had a baby too, and you can’t even tell,” are seen by some as echoing Lively’s allegations. In the film, Deadpool criticizes Nicepool for his misogyny, to which Nicepool responds, “It’s okay, I identify as a feminist.” This has raised questions about Reynolds’ use of serious issues, like sexual harassment, for comedic purposes.
Freedman’s litigation hold letter specifically calls for the preservation of documents relating to the creation of the Nicepool character and any communications around the development and filming of scenes involving him. The letter also demands any documentation that could suggest a deliberate attempt to mock or harass Baldoni through the character. The letter extends its scope to include any relevant materials about Reynolds’ involvement in the Deadpool films, including his relationship with director Tim Miller, who has had public disagreements with Reynolds.
This legal maneuver comes on the heels of a series of lawsuits. Baldoni and several others have filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over its reporting on Lively’s accusations, which they claim relied on manipulated communications. Lively, in turn, has filed her own lawsuit against Baldoni and his group, and other figures from the production have also filed legal claims.
Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, has indicated that further legal action against Lively and Reynolds is imminent, as he believes the couple’s actions have caused significant damage to his client’s reputation and career.
The case also ties back to Deadpool & Wolverine‘s credits, where the actor playing Nicepool is listed as “Gordon Reynolds” rather than Ryan Reynolds, a curious detail that has fueled speculation about a deeper connection between the characters and the ongoing legal dispute. Additionally, Lively thanked Gordon Reynolds in the credits of It Ends With Us, further linking the two projects.
The controversy surrounding the Deadpool films, It Ends With Us, and the involved parties has created a complex web of legal challenges, with no resolution in sight as the various lawsuits continue to unfold.
