Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni’s legal battle heads to trial in 2026

• Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached one conclusion.
• They will continue to disagree with each other.
• A trial date has been set for March 2026.

After two months of intense legal disputes, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached one conclusion: they will continue to disagree. A trial date has been set for March 2026, as both parties remain firm in their lawsuits against each other.

On Thursday, their legal teams submitted a joint letter to the Manhattan judge overseeing their case. Lively’s lawyers indicated plans to “imminently” expand their list of defendants, though no names have been disclosed.

Lively first filed her lawsuit on December 31, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment on set and fostering a “hostile” work environment. She also alleged he launched a retaliatory “smear campaign” against her. In response, Baldoni countersued two weeks later, seeking $400 million in defamation damages. His suit named Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her publicists as co-defendants. Around the same time, Baldoni also filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times over its report on Lively’s accusations.

Despite a court order in January requiring mediation, both parties believe a settlement is “inappropriate” and “premature.” The letter, cited by Business Insider, states that they have determined “that settlement discussions would be premature” and mediation remains “inappropriate.” The case now moves forward as both sides prepare for trial.

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