In the audio message, dated April 3, 2023, Baldoni, who directed and costarred in the film, thanked the Gossip Girl alum, 38, for sharing photos from her fitting, telling her he \u201clegit got the chills\u201d when they appeared on his phone during a department head meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look beautiful,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to work so well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baldoni, 42, then asked for Lively\u2019s input on a key casting decision, calling on her \u201cgenius marketing brain\u201d and \u201cEP brain.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the production reviewed roughly 2,600 auditions for the role of the young Lily Bloom, weighing the marketing appeal of fan-favorite Abigail Cohen against newcomer Isabella Ferrera<\/a>, whom he says more closely resembles Lively.<\/p>\n Araya Doheny\/Variety via Getty; Lia Toby\/Getty, Taylor Hill\/WireImage <\/p>\n \u201cI would love your brilliant mind and love to hear your thoughts,\u201d Baldoni told her, adding that he planned to pray and meditate on the decision before discussing it with Sony.<\/p>\n Last week, unsealed filings revealed a Feb. 8, 2023, voice note in which Lively<\/a> spoke candidly about feeling overwhelmed as she prepared to return to work while juggling multiple projects, a newborn, and family responsibilities.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m talking to you as a friend at this point more than anything,\u201d Lively said in that message.<\/p>\n During production, Baldoni also left Lively a separate voice note apologizing<\/a> after the two discussed changes she made to a scene, according to a message that later leaked in January 2025. PEOPLE was unable to verify when that recording was made.<\/p>\n Taylor Hill\/WireImage; John Nacion\/Variety via Getty<\/p>\n The April 3 voice note was sent several weeks before an April 25, 2023, meeting at Lively\u2019s home, during which Lively claims Ryan Reynolds<\/a>, 49, confronted Baldoni over concerns Lively raised about alleged fat-shaming comments<\/a>, per her amended complaint.<\/p>\n At a recent court hearing, the judge heard oral arguments centered on Baldoni\u2019s motion for summary judgment<\/a>, which seeks to dismiss the case before it reaches a jury.<\/p>\n Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024<\/a>, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation \u2014 claims he denies \u2014 and is seeking more than $160 million in damages<\/a>. Baldoni later filed a separate $400 million countersuit accusing Lively of extortion and defamation, which has since been dismissed by a judge.<\/p>\n The trial is currently scheduled to begin May 18, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Justin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1a0ec9f5423d9c830d3651705c5b7395.jpeg\"\/)
Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, Isabela Ferrer <\/p>\n![\"Blake](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/79f4c01f5a927271d043b7868ed48830.jpeg\"\/)
Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds attend premiere of “Deadpool & Wolverine”; Justin Baldoni at the “IEWU” <\/p>\n