Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Fail to Reach Settlement; Trial Now Looms in It Ends With Us Legal Battle

Blake Lively (left) and Justin Baldoni (right) attend the New York premiere of It Ends with Us.

After months of high-profile legal wrangling and courtroom appearances, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were back in a New York federal courthouse earlier this week trying to resolve their bitter legal dispute, only to walk out with no settlement in sight and a trial now likely later this year.

The pair spent an entire six-hour court-ordered mediation session on February 11, 2026, attempting to settle Lively’s lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation during the filming of their 2024 movie It Ends With Us. Despite the prolonged negotiations and a federal judge overseeing the process, no agreement was reached and both sides left the Manhattan courthouse separately. 

The failure to settle now sets the stage for the case to proceed toward trial, currently slated for May 18, 2026, unless another resolution is reached before then.  

Inside the Settlement Talks That Didn’t Work

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni arrived at the courthouse in Lower Manhattan as part of a mandatory mediation effort required before a federal civil trial. Both actors were accompanied by their attorneys and spent most of the day in separate courtrooms while lawyers and a magistrate judge attempted to broker a deal.

When the mediation ended, Lively walked out with a serious expression and returned to her waiting car, while Baldoni left shortly after, smiling and accompanied by his wife. Neither side spoke to the media. 

In comments provided by Baldoni’s attorney after the session, it was confirmed that no settlement was achieved, and that discussions are unlikely to resolve the case before trial. 

What Happens Next in Court

This dispute dates back to December 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit alleging that Baldoni engaged in sexual harassment and retaliatory conduct during the filming of It Ends With Us. Baldoni has denied the claims. He originally filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others, but most of that countersuit was dismissed by a federal judge in June 2025, who ruled that Lively’s statements were legally protected as part of a workplace complaint.

With no settlement achieved, both sides are expected to intensify preparations for trial. The case remains scheduled to go before a jury on May 18, 2026, barring any last-minute deal. In addition to Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims, the legal teams are expected to continue filing pre-trial motions, exchanges of evidence, and arguments that could shape what is presented in court.

Legal experts have noted that while settlement remains possible up to the start of trial, the breakdown in talks suggests that the parties remain entrenched in their positions.