Blake Lively’s explosive sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends with Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni will not reach a jury until spring 2026, after a federal judge pushed the trial date back by more than two months. The case, originally slated for March 9, 2026, was delayed during a post-discovery hearing on Tuesday, where New York federal judge Lewis J. Liman informed both sides that his docket demanded the change.

Judge Liman told the parties that two pending criminal trials must take priority. “As important as this case is … criminal trials take precedent,” he said, moving the civil showdown to May 18, 2026.

Lively filed suit in January, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, orchestrating a smear campaign, and retaliating against her after she raised concerns about misconduct on the set of the 2024 adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. The actress claimed Baldoni fostered a hostile environment throughout the film’s production and marketing.

Baldoni denied all allegations and launched a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging they conspired to “destroy” his reputation and career. That case collapsed last month when Baldoni’s team failed to file an amended complaint by the court’s October deadline.

Despite his countersuit’s dismissal, Baldoni is now pushing to have Lively’s claims thrown out as well. His attorneys argue she “cannot prove any actionable sexual harassment” and that “no reasonable jury” would find him liable.

Lively’s lawyers fired back in a forceful, heavily redacted 72-page brief, accusing Baldoni and co-defendants Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, and others of attempting to silence her. Their filing argues the defense is trying to “deny Blake Lively her day in court, by throwing the kitchen sink at Lively’s sexual harassment and retaliation claims.”

They also allege that when confronted with complaints about the on-set environment, the defendants “abandoned Wayfarer’s policies by refusing to investigate the concerns.” The filing further claims the defendants have worked to “transform Lively — a mother of four with decades of experience in the industry who simply sought a safe and respectful workplace — into a ‘bully’ who ‘took over’ Baldoni’s film,” insisting such narratives “are not a defense to harassment, retaliation, defamation, or any claim Lively has advanced.”

With the court date now moved to May 2026, both sides will continue preparing for what is shaping into one of Hollywood’s most bitter and consequential legal battles — a clash where reputation, workplace safety, and the power dynamics of film production will all take center stage.