Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively leave court without deal as trial showdown looms

What appeared to be a crucial chance to avoid a public courtroom battle has passed, with Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively failing to reach a settlement after hours of court-ordered mediation in New York.

The It Ends with Us co-stars spent nearly six hours in closed-door talks on Wednesday as part of Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, a routine step in federal proceedings. The mediation ended without an agreement.

Outside the courthouse, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman confirmed that no deal had been reached and indicated the case is now likely to proceed to trial.

“I do believe it will go to trial,” Freedman told reporters, while adding that there is still a possibility of a settlement at a later stage.

A turning point in a closely watched case

The mediation was widely seen as a potential off-ramp in a legal dispute that has drawn intense attention in Hollywood, fuelled by unsealed court filings, leaked messages and sharply differing accounts of what happened during the making of It Ends with Us.

Instead, both actors exited the federal courthouse separately and without comment, a quiet end to a day that could have reshaped the trajectory of the case.

Allegations, denials and dismissed claims

Lively, 38, first filed her sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni, 42, over alleged misconduct on the film’s set. Baldoni has denied the allegations.

Counterclaims filed by Baldoni against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging extortion and defamation, were dismissed by a judge in June 2025. Lively is seeking more than $160 million in damages.

Unsealed filings raise the stakes

Court documents unsealed late last year revealed that Lively had listed more than 100 potential witnesses, including several high-profile figures from the entertainment industry. The filings also included emails, text messages and audio recordings submitted as evidence, adding to public scrutiny of the case.

At a hearing last month, Baldoni’s legal team argued the dispute stemmed from creative disagreements rather than misconduct. Lively’s lawyers rejected that characterisation, maintaining that his behaviour on set was inappropriate.

Trial now firmly on the horizon

Settlement discussions are expected to resume at a later date, though no timeline has been announced. Attorneys for both sides have said they plan to testify when the case, formally titled Lively v. Wayfarer Studios et al., is scheduled to go to trial in New York in May.

For now, the failed mediation signals that one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal battles is edging closer to a public courtroom showdown.