The ongoing legal saga between Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, and several others tied to It Ends With Us has entered yet another chapter — and this one pushes the highly anticipated trial even further into the future.
Earlier this year, Justin’s $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Blake and additional parties was officially dismissed, closing one major component of the multi-layered legal clash. However, Blake’s lawsuit — which alleges sexual harassment and retaliation against Justin — has remained active and had been scheduled to go to trial in March 2026.
Now that date has officially changed.
Judge Lewis J. Liman revealed today (December 9) that the civic trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York will now begin on May 18, 2026. The reason? Court scheduling realities — and the fact that criminal trials must take precedence.
“As important as this case is … criminal trials take precedent,” he explained, according to People, noting that he has two criminal trials currently ahead of this one.
The next hearing for the case will take place on January 22, 2026, setting the stage for what has already become one of Hollywood’s most scrutinized legal battles.
The lawsuit has loomed over the It Ends With Us press cycle since the film’s earliest days, adding layers of tension and controversy to a project that was already under intense scrutiny from fans and industry watchers alike. With the trial date now pushed back, all eyes will remain on the unfolding developments — and the next chapter of a case neither side seems eager to step away from.
For now, the countdown resets. And come May 2026, this courtroom drama is sure to command just as many headlines as the on-screen one did.
