Justin Baldoni’s recent legal battle with Blake Lively is putting significant strain on both of their careers, following a series of issues during and after the filming of their It Ends With Us movie.
Baldoni, who has also directed several movies in the past, stated that he has lost projects due to these controversies, and this may include his anticipated Pac-Man movie.
Let’s discuss how the celebrity feud between the two actors is impacting their Hollywood careers below.
Justin Baldoni's Pac-Man Movie at Risk Due to Blake Lively Controversy
In 2022, Justin Baldoni took on a project with his production company, Wayfarer Studios, and Bandai Namco Entertainment to bring a movie adaptation of the classic video game Pac-Man.
For years, the movie has been in development, along with three other projects of his. However, there was no major update about the upcoming film featuring the dot-eating character until August of last year, when he once again announced that he would be directing the movie.
It turns out that his announcement was a PR move by Baldoni and his team, aimed at moving forward and focusing on his career. This is according to a text message he sent to his team in August 2024.
During this time, rumors about the Jane the Virgin actor and his co-star began circulating. These rumors started when Baldoni was the only one not posing with his co-stars at the New York premiere and when several It Ends With Us cast members, including Lively, unfollowed him on social media.
The rumored argument soon escalated into an official legal dispute, set to be taken to court in March 2026, when Blake Lively accused him of sexual misconduct and a smear campaign against her.
In response, Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, as well as a libel case against The New York Times.
While nothing has been proven in these allegations yet, the fiasco has caused Baldoni to lose three of his jobs, one of which is theorized to be the live-action Pac-Man film. Bandai Namco has yet to provide an official comment on the matter.
The Pac-Man movie's script is already being written by Christopher Yost, the same writer who penned Thor: Ragnarok. There has been no news of its discontinuation, but if it is canceled, this would mark the third failed attempt at a Pac-Man feature film, according to Fandom.
How The Fiasco Has Affected Baldoni and Lively’s Careers
The legal fight between Baldoni and Lively has resulted in reputational damage, putting several of their future projects at risk.
The director and his Wayfarer studio were immediately dropped by WME following Lively’s accusation on December 21, which might be one of the major factors behind them losing three of their jobs, as they had relied on the talent agency for packaging their projects.
While many notable people, including It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover, have offered their support to the Gossip Girl alum after she made her claims public, most people on the internet are currently siding with Baldoni due to recent developments and leaks that might have strengthened his case.
It still isn’t certain which of the two celebrities’ future projects will be affected by the ongoing legal battle, but with more and more information being released, it seems like the conflict’s effect on their careers is far from over.
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