Justin Baldoni is pressing forward with a legal move to locate It Ends With Us costar Isabela Ferrer as part of his ongoing dispute with Blake Lively. Us Weekly reports that Baldoni’s team has filed court documents seeking Ferrer, 24, as a material witness in Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, who directed the film and stars in it with Lively. Ferrer played the younger version of Lively’s Lily in the movie.
The subpoena Baldoni’s lawyers issued requests Ferrer to turn over any documents related to discriminatory, harassing, retaliatory, inappropriate, or unwelcome actions or statements made during production or post-production of the 2024 film. They also asked for any communications between Ferrer and Lively about the lawsuit, as well as all communications between Ferrer and Baldoni or his business partner.
Baldoni’s motion notes that Ferrer’s attorney has not responded to the subpoena. The court filings describe attempts by a process server in early August to deliver the subpoena to Ferrer at a Brooklyn address believed to be her home, but those on-site did not recognize Ferrer. Another attempt was made at a Sag Harbor address, but Ferrer was not located.
This development comes after Baldoni’s earlier, now-dismissed suit alleging that Lively urged Ferrer to shun him. Lively and Ferrer were frequently photographed together during the film’s international press tour, and Ferrer had previously spoken positively about Lively, telling People that Lively was an “angel” and praising the connection they shared as costars.
Lively was deposed in New York on July 31 as part of the ongoing dispute. Her team has accused Baldoni’s side of leaking deposition details to the press, an accusation Baldoni and his attorneys have denied. Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, argued that the origin of any leaks is not a newsworthy matter and suggested that possible sources could include Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, or others connected to her legal team, including staff from the law firm representing her.
In the broader context of the case, Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set and has alleged that he hired a public-relations operation to smear her after she spoke out. Baldoni has denied the harassment claims and has argued that Lively sought to control the film after production wrapped, damaging his reputation in the press.
Additional value and context:
– The sought-after materials, if produced, could shed light on internal dynamics on set and potential communications about conduct, production decisions, or strategies related to the post-production phase.
– Subpoenas for a costar’s communications and documents are common in high-profile civil disputes, especially when the other party seeks to establish patterns of conduct or influence.
– The case underscores ongoing industry focus on workplace behavior and the importance of documented evidence in such allegations.
Summary angle:
This developing thread highlights how civil disputes surrounding a high-profile film can hinge on the willingness and ability to locate witnesses and obtain internal communications. As the litigation continues, the outcomes of these subpoenas and depositions could influence public understanding of the events on set and the exchange of information among principal participants.
Positive spin:
The situation, while legal and contentious, also keeps spotlight on accountability and due process in film production, potentially encouraging clearer conduct guidelines and more transparent handling of workplace concerns in the industry.
Note: This rewrite reflects the facts as reported and does not introduce new information beyond what has been disclosed in the coverage.