A heated legal feud has erupted between Justin Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds over the alleged parody of Baldoni in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine.
The controversy stems from the character Nicepool, which Baldoni's legal team argues is a direct mockery of him.
Baldoni's attorney emphasized the severity of the claim, saying (via The Independent, “What Ryan Reynolds has seemingly done is use his power and influence to not only help Blake Lively take over [It Ends with Us] but he’s used it on Deadpool and to make fun of Justin Baldoni,”
The letter sent to Marvel and Disney requests the preservation of all creative materials linked to the character.
The backdrop to this feud appears to be Baldoni's earlier professional interactions with Reynolds' wife, Blake Lively, during their collaboration on the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us.
According to insiders, creative disagreements between Baldoni and Lively may have laid the groundwork for this latest spat.
Baldoni, who directed and starred in It Ends With Us, reportedly clashed with Lively over the production's direction.
This tension now seems to have spilled over into the Deadpool universe, where Baldoni believes he is being ridiculed through the Nicepool persona.
While the exact nature of the character remains under wraps, the legal team argues that its traits mirror exaggerated perceptions of Baldoni.
Ryan Reynolds, known for his comedic style and penchant for breaking the fourth wall, has not publicly addressed the claims. Industry experts note that this feud could impact the film’s reception if audiences perceive the character as crossing the line into personal attacks.
Fans of both stars have taken to social media, with some defending Reynolds’ signature humor while others back Baldoni's right to challenge perceived slights.
The dispute raises broader questions about the boundaries of parody, particularly when it intersects with personal and professional relationships.
As legal proceedings unfold, all eyes remain on whether this drama will cast a shadow over Deadpool & Wolverine, one of Marvel's most anticipated releases.
Last month, Blake Lively filed a formal lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, while he filed a lawsuit of his own against the New York Times.
The pair have been at loggerheads recently over claims of sexual harassment on the set of the Coleen Hoover book adaptation.
Lively, 37, filed a suit on Tuesday in New York federal court for alleged sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and lost wages against Baldoni, 40, according to reports from Page Six.
The allegations made in the lawsuit mirror that of the complaint Lively filed last week with the California Civil Rights Department, claiming that Baldoni sexually harassed her on set and allegedly hired a crisis management team to destroy her reputation after they'd held a meeting to address his alleged behavior.
Lively is also suing Baldoni's crisis manager, Melissa Nathan, as well as his publicist Jennifer Abel, and Wayfarer Studios, which produced the movie.
The actress's attorneys told the outlet in a statement: "Earlier today, Ms. Lively filed a federal complaint against Wayfarer Studios and others in the Southern District of New York.
"Ms. Lively previously sent her California Civil Rights Department complaint in response to the retaliatory campaign Wayfarer launched against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns."
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