The highly publicised sexual harassment trial between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has been postponed. The trial, initially scheduled for March 9, 2026, will now begin on May 18, 2026.
Judge Lewis J. Liman ordered the delay during a post-discovery hearing. He cited a packed court calendar, explaining that while important, “criminal trials take precedent” over civil matters. This adds another procedural chapter to the contentious legal drama.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Blake Lively in December 2024. She accused co-star and director Justin Baldoni of sexually harassing her on the set of the film “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni has consistently denied all allegations.
Tensions escalated in January 2025 when Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit. He targeted Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation and extortion.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's "It Ends With Us" legal drama is being pushed back. https://t.co/03g102318O pic.twitter.com/Un5jvbYxHg
— E! News (@enews) December 10, 2025A significant ruling came in June 2025. Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit and a separate $250 million libel suit against The New York Times. The judge ruled Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios failed to prove Lively was responsible for defamatory statements beyond her official complaint.
Judge Liman stated the plaintiffs did not allege that Reynolds, Sloane, or the Times “would have seriously doubted these statements were true.” Baldoni’s legal team had the opportunity to amend the complaint but chose not to, leading to a final judgment of dismissal last month.
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The two parties are set to return to court on January 22, 2026, for oral arguments on summary judgment. This hearing could significantly shape the remaining course of the litigation.
Public accusations have marked the dispute. Baldoni previously claimed Lively was “playing the victim” and likened her strategy to “the Taylor Swift playbook.” With public interest high, the legal saga continues to unfold, with the delayed trial now set for late spring 2026.
