The legal dispute between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni may be headed toward a settlement, as a federal judge has strongly encouraged both parties to resolve the matter outside of court.
According to a report by People magazine, Judge Lewis J. Liman advised the actors to pursue settlement discussions, suggesting that the upcoming trial may be avoidable.
The judge’s guidance came on the same day the court officially postponed the civil trial, originally scheduled for March 9, 2026. Due to a congested schedule of criminal proceedings, the trial has now been shifted to May 18, 2026, with criminal cases taking priority. The next pretrial hearing is set for January 22 as both sides continue the discovery process.
Judge Liman directed Lively, 38, and Baldoni, 41, to work with a magistrate judge to explore a potential agreement. Legal analyst Gregory Doll told People that such guidance is common. “Many settlements occur right before trial,” he explained. “The pressure of an approaching trial date often pushes parties to rethink their positions. A magistrate judge will emphasize the risks, and that’s when many disputes finally resolve.”
However, Doll noted that this case may be different. “This is a deeply personal dispute, and both sides have the resources to fight,” he added.
The conflict between Lively and Baldoni escalated following the filming of the Colleen Hoover adaptation, with Lively later suing Baldoni for sexual harassment. Baldoni filed countersuits against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times, though those claims were ultimately dismissed.
For now, the high-profile case remains headed toward trial on May 18, 2026, unless both parties choose to settle beforehand.