But Baldoni’s attorney believes that Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds was flagrantly mocking Baldoni in a sequence in Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which was released by Disney in July.
The sequence features Reynolds playing “Nicepool,” an oafish alternate version of the eponymous hero Deadpool, saying such lines as “Where in God’s name is the intimacy coordinator?
Marvel and Disney declined comment as did an attorney for Reynolds and Lively.
In the end credits of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the actor who plays Nicepool is listed as “Gordon Reynolds” and not Ryan Reynolds.
In a strange twist, Lively thanked Gordon Reynolds in the end credits of “It Ends With Us,” drawing a seeming line to Nicepool.
Apparently, it doesn’t stop with them.
Marvel president Kevin Feige, Disney CEO Bob Iger, and director Tim Miller are the most recent industry figures drawn into the drama surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal dispute.
Regarding Jan. 7. In relation to his client’s “anticipated claims” against Ryan Reynolds, Lively, and other unidentified parties, Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, sent Feige and Iger a litigation hold letter. Variety has seen a copy of the letter, which requests that the studio keep all pertinent records and information about Baldoni.
Given that “It Ends With Us,” the movie at the heart of the Lively and Baldoni feud, was released by Sony and had nothing to do with Disney, the move might come as a surprise. However, Baldoni’s lawyer feels that in a scene from Marvel’s “Deadpool and Wolverine,” which Disney released in July, Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds was blatantly making fun of Baldoni. Reynolds plays “Nicepool,” a snarky parody of the titular character Deadpool, in the scene. She says things like, “Where in God’s name is the intimacy coordinator?!” and praises Ladypool for “snapping back” into shape after giving birth.
Lively recently accused Baldoni of fat-shaming and sexually harassing her postpartum body on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Lively made a brief appearance in the tentpole as Ladypool. When Deadpool calls out Nicepool’s misogyny in the scene, the latter responds, “It’s okay, I identify as a feminist.”. (Baldoni frequently emphasized his credentials as a feminist and ally of women during the creation, production, and promotion of the drama “It Ends With Us,” which examined domestic abuse. ().
An attorney for Reynolds and Lively declined to comment, as did Marvel and Disney. Freedman was not available for comment. He is thought to be one of the numerous prominent members of the industry whose residence was destroyed in the still-raging Pacific Palisades fire.
On the day the fires started, Marvel and Disney sent a letter requesting that they preserve “any and all documents relating to the development of the ‘Nicepool’ character” and “communications relating to the development, writing, and filming of storylines and scenes featuring ‘Nicepool.'”. The letter also requests that the studio keep “” and any records that show a conscious effort to make fun of, harass, ridicule, threaten, or physically harm Baldoni by using the character of “Nicepool.”. ‘”.
Long before the current legal dispute between the parties that has resulted in three lawsuits to date, fans speculated about a possible connection between Nicepool and Baldoni, but Reynolds, the writer, producer, and star of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” has never addressed the matter. On Dec. 31 In their $250 million lawsuit, Baldoni and nine other people accused the New York Times of sexual harassment and launching a retaliatory online campaign, citing a letter Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department as a major source of information. The group accused the Times of using “manipulated and cherry-picked” communications that were purposefully spliced to mislead and stripped of important context. Additionally, according to the complaint, Lively employed false accusations and started her own “strategic and manipulative” smear campaign in order to “assert unilateral control over every aspect of the production.”. “.”.
while making an appearance on Jan. on “The Megyn Kelly Show.”. 7. Freedman made a reference to the Nicepool figure. “There’s no doubt that Justin is involved. “Anyone who saw that hair bun,” Freedman remarked. He also asked why Reynolds would make fun of his wife’s alleged sexual harassment. “You don’t make fun of someone who is experiencing severe sexual harassment. The matter is grave,” Freedman continued.
Written ahead of “anticipated claims relate to Reynolds and Lively’s tortious interference with contract and civil extortion,” the litigation hold letter suggests a Lively/Baldoni-style rift between Reynolds and Miller, who directed the first “Deadpool” film but did not return for the sequel or “Deadpool & Wolverine.” It goes far beyond the Nicepool character. There is a history of conflict between the star and the director. In addition to Miller’s exit from “Deadpool 2,” the letter directs the studio to keep any records and information “pertaining to complaints made against Ryan Reynolds by any person, including without limitation Tim Miller” and any instances in which Reynolds exercised “creative control of any film project.”. An immediate request for comment was not answered by Miller. ).
Litigation frequently begins with a litigation hold letter. While Freedman has not yet filed a lawsuit against Lively or Reynolds, he has told Kelly that he intends to do so “into oblivion.”. WME, the agency he shared with Lively and Reynolds, fired Baldoni after the Times story was published. Miller is also represented by WME.
In a lawsuit that mirrored her CRD letter, Lively sued the plaintiffs in federal court after Baldoni and a group that also includes publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel sued the Times in Los Angeles Superior Court. Additionally, Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s former publicist, filed a lawsuit against him, Abel, and Nathan. Jones alleges that Nathan and Abel planned to attack her and that Baldoni broke his contract. The text messages that are included in the Times article and the actress’ CRD letter were sent by Jones’ business, according to Lively’s lawyers.
Nicepool remarks about Ladypool in “Deadpool & Wolverine”: “She is gorgeous.”. You can’t even tell that she recently gave birth. That seems to be similar to Lively’s claim that Baldoni made similar remarks to make fun of her appearance after she gave birth to her fourth child. According to Baldoni’s Times lawsuit, he inquired about her weight with their mutual trainer because he was unable to lift as many pounds due to back problems. ).
Nicepool’s actor is identified as “Gordon Reynolds” rather than Ryan Reynolds in the “Deadpool & Wolverine” end credits. In an odd turn of events, Lively appeared to draw a line to Nicepool when she thanked Gordon Reynolds during the “It Ends With Us” end credits. Lively also wrote on Instagram on July 22 about “nice men who use feminism as a tool,” tagging @deadpoolmovie and @itendswithusmovie. “.”.
