Justin Baldoni and his legal team is asking Marvel and Disney to “preserve evidence” related to the anticipated claims Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and other parties.
According to a stay of proceedings letter obtained by Us Weekly on Tuesday, July 14 at The Walt Disney Company's Bob Iger and Marvel Studio's Kevin Feige received a request from Baldonis's lawyer, Brian Friedmanto “preserve all existing documents and data relevant to anticipated claims.”
This information includes, but is not limited to, all documents and statements relating to Reynolds' conduct in connection with any film Deadpool franchise.
It also includes any documents that “relate to or represent a deliberate attempt to mock, harass, ridicule, intimate or intimidate Baldoni through the use of the image of 'Nicepool'.”
“It is important that Marvel take all reasonable steps to preserve this information until further notice,” Friedman wrote.
Baldoni, 40, is embroiled in a legal battle with Lively, 37, who co-starred with the director in the 2024 Sony film. It ends with us.
While It ends with us not affiliated with Disney, Baldoni's attorney previously stated that Reynolds, 48, may have been mocking Baldoni at Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverinewhich Disney released in July.
According to Friedman, Reynolds' character Nicepool—who is a male sports version of Deadpool—says lines like: “Where in God's name is the intimacy coordinator?!” and compliments Ladypool (voiced by Lively) for “getting back” in shape after giving birth.
When Deadpool points out Nicepool's misogyny in the scene, the latter replies, “That's fine, I identify as a feminist.” (Baldon has previously dressed in a man bun and has expressed her fervent feminism. In December 2024, Baldoni received Solidarity Votes from Vital Voices for her support of women. The reward was rescinded a few days later due to allegations of sexual harassment.)
We has reached out to Baldoni's team, Marvel, Disney and counsel for Lively and Reynolds for comment.
In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. The suit claimed the meeting was held to address Lively's allegations that there was a “hostile work environment” on set. It ends with us.
She also accused the actor of waging a campaign of “social manipulation” against her to “destroy” her reputation.
Baldoni's lawyer called Lively's accusations “completely false, cruel and deliberately concocted”. Weclaiming that Lively filed the lawsuit to possibly “repair her negative reputation” and “revise the narrative” about the making of the film.
Baldoni also responded with his own trialwhere he was listed as one of 10 plaintiffs to sue The New York Times for $250 million after reporting Lively's legal filing. Baldoni's lawsuit alleged that Lively engaged in a “strategic and manipulative” smear campaign against him and that times “Cherry-picked” communication while subtracting key information.
Representative for The New York Times said the publication stands by the story and plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”