Blake Lively Allegedly Told Matt Damon That Making It Ends With Us “Nearly Killed Me,” Newly Unsealed Emails Reveal
LOS ANGELES — Actress and producer Blake Lively allegedly described her experience working on It Ends With Us as so intense that it “nearly killed” her, according to an explosive email exchange that was unsealed this week as part of her ongoing legal battle with the film’s director and costar, Justin Baldoni.
The email, dated May 17, 2024, was reportedly sent during post-production and involved Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and recipients Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Damon, court records show. The messages were among several emails and texts submitted as evidence and unsealed ahead of a summary judgment hearing scheduled for Jan. 22.
“This Movie Nearly Killed Me”
In the alleged message, Lively, 38, began by thanking Damon for considering watching the film and warning him about its sensitive subject matter, including depictions of domestic violence.
“Thank you for even considering,” she reportedly wrote. “It’s not a bad movie, so who knows — you may enjoy some of it. Just be warned it covers domestic violence in key places.”
She then added bluntly: “This movie nearly killed me.”
The actress, who starred in and served as a producer on the Colleen Hoover adaptation, allegedly went on to sharply criticize Baldoni, accusing him of taking on too many roles without adequate experience.
Allegations of Creative Control and Chaos
According to the email, Lively claimed Baldoni simultaneously acted as director, costar, producer, financier, and studio head, despite what she described as having “zero experience.” She allegedly accused him of lacking taste and having an “enormous ego,” writing that she wished her claims were exaggerated.
Lively further alleged that she was forced to assume creative responsibilities far beyond her contractual role.
“I rewrote the entire script. I directed every actor,” she reportedly wrote, adding that the film’s cinematographer regularly came to her because he “couldn’t get anything” from Baldoni.
The email also claimed that Lively was later excluded from critical post-production decisions and subjected to a rushed editing process.
Rushed Editing and Exhaustion
“They gave me 10 days to scrap together an edit to compete with an edit he’s been making since July,” Lively allegedly wrote, describing an internal editing “bake-off.”
She claimed the intense timeline left her sleeping roughly an hour and a half per night, calling the experience overwhelming and emotionally draining. According to the message, an upcoming screening would be her “first and only” chance to provide feedback before a final decision was made.
She reportedly described the situation as “all the drama,” noting it wasn’t even “the good stuff.”
Ryan Reynolds’ Lighthearted Response
Ryan Reynolds, 49, also appeared to be included in the email chain, striking a lighter tone. He told Damon there was “zero pressure” to watch the film and suggested he could access it through Lively’s Pix account if interested.
Reynolds also joked that Damon and Luciana’s daughters were welcome at a friends-and-family screening, quipping that the production was “one of the all-time zingers on and off set.”
“One day,” Reynolds joked, “we’ll make a movie about the movie.”
Legal Battle Still Ongoing
The unsealed emails are now part of the public record in Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, which she filed in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has denied the claims and previously filed a $400 million countersuit, which was dismissed in June by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.
Despite the dismissal, the case remains active, with a trial currently scheduled to begin on May 18.
Neither Lively nor Baldoni commented publicly following the release of the newly unsealed court documents.