After nearly two years of legal drama overshadowing the original “It Ends with Us” movie, reports suggest actor-director Justin Baldoni is going back to the drawing board and already working on a sequel.
Despite the messy court fight, the project is reportedly still in motion, leaving fans with one major question: whether his co-star, Blake Lively, will be part of it.
Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement earlier this month, but the actress is reportedly still seeking damages over alleged retaliation tied to his dismissed $400 million countersuit.
Lively and Baldoni appear to be on very different paths following the end of their contentious court battle.
While insiders have claimed the “Gossip Girl” alum has become unpopular in some Hollywood circles, with one industry source alleging that no one wants to work with her again, Baldoni is reportedly already focused on another, possible “It Starts with Us” movie.
Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, still owns the rights to a sequel and is said to have begun early development on the project following the success of the original movie.
“Justin finally feels like he can breathe again,” an insider told Rob Shuter’s #ShutterScoop. “For months, it was nonstop lawsuits, backlash, and crisis management. Now he’s focused on rebuilding.”
Lively And Baldoni’s Feud Nearly Sank The Franchise
The original film’s momentum took a massive hit after Lively filed a lawsuit in 2025, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment on set. He denied the allegations and fired back with a $400 million countersuit against her, though a judge threw it out last year.
Their court battle also spilled beyond the two stars, dragging several high-profile names into the drama, including Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her former friend, Taylor Swift.
Fans labeled their dynamic “toxic” and feared the bitter legal fight may have marked the end of the film franchise. However, a source claimed Baldoni is now moving on regardless, even if that means doing it without Lively.
Justin Baldoni ‘Wouldn’t Mind’ Working With Lively
Despite their public fight, Baldoni reportedly believes the story’s message is bigger than the behind-the-scenes drama and is willing to push ahead to bring it back to life.
“Justin still believes in these stories and believes audiences are ready to move on,” a source explained. “He thinks the focus can finally return to the movies instead of the drama.”
However, per Mandatory, whether Lively will reprise her role as Lily Bloom remains the multimillion-dollar question for many fans. Although sources claim it is highly unlikely, Baldoni is reportedly leaving the door open and “wouldn’t mind” working with her again.
“Justin would work with Blake again if it helped save the franchise,” an insider revealed. “He’s not interested in revenge. He just wants to make movies again.”
Lively And Baldoni Settled Their Legal Fight
The news comes barely a week after they reached a settlement that reportedly didn’t cost either party anything.
Before then, the “A Simple Favor” actress had already suffered a massive blow to her case after a judge dismissed 10 out of the 13 claims she made against him, including sexual harassment and defamation.
In a statement released as part of their settlement, they noted that starring in the film and raising awareness about the rigors of domestic violence remains a source of pride for both parties, per Variety.
“We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard,” they continued. “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.”
Justin Baldoni Reportedly Wants To ‘Tell His Story’
Meanwhile, it may be hard for Baldoni to remain silent about everything that has happened, as reports suggest he is considering a tell-all to share his side of the fallout with Lively.
Their co-star in the film, Adam Mondschein, who appeared as a doctor, accused Lively of hurting his friend and claimed Baldoni wants to “tell his story” because he “deserves to be heard,” despite her camp allegedly doing everything to prevent that, per Radar Online.
Another source claimed Baldoni felt “vindicated” by how things played out before the settlement, adding that Lively probably did not expect the case to be challenged as “aggressively” as it was.
