The ongoing legal battle of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni took a strange turn this week as Baldoni’s lawyer got Disney and Marvel involved in the drama-filled mess. He’s trying to draw parallels between Baldoni and the character of Nicepool, played in Deadpool and Wolverine by Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, and he’s demanding Disney’s internal communications to prove it.
In case you’ve missed it, Ryan Reynold’s Deadpool is about the only thing Marvel has going for it these days in terms of ventures that aren’t a black-hole money-sink. Part and parcel with Deadpool, of course, is Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds.
(L-R): Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. ©: Village People Backtrack, Confirm They Will Perform at Trump Inauguration Despite Past Cease and Desist
Deadpool and Wolverine was a wild box office success, featuring Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and a host of other celebrities…..some more overt than others it seems… One of those which flew by the radar was the character of Ladypool, later revealed to have been played by Blake Lively.
And then there was “Nicepool,” a handsome, man-bunned, self-identified feminist with an ear huggy and unsolicited opinions on healing inner trauma.
This character is, according to Justin Baldoni’s lawyer….Justin Baldoni (although actually played by Reynolds).
Currently, Blake Lively and Baldoni are engaged in a legal battle over claims that he sexually harassed her during the production of their film It Ends With Us. The proceedings have gotten quite messy, with multiple lawsuits and counter-suits being thrown about.
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Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in the film It Ends With Us – YouTube, Sony Pictures EntertainmentREAD: Carrie Underwood Blasted by The View Hosts for Decision to Perform at Donald Trump Inauguration
Where it takes a turn for the bizarre are recent claims by Baldoni’s lawyer, Attorney Bryan Freedman, that the Nicepool character is in fact based on Baldoni himself. How did he arrive at this conclusion?
Well, in his own words (while talking to Megyn Kelly): “What I make of that is if your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni….there’s no question it relates to Justin. I mean, anybody that [saw] that hair bun.”
The man-bun has it, apparently! However, surely there are still many man-bunned men out there right?
For example, the “Harold” character played by Justin Theroux in the newest Beetlejuice 2 film is almost identical in terms of personality and mannerisms to Nicepool (and also has a man-bun). Was he also based on Baldoni?
But Freedman and Baldoni are so sure of this, they’re using it as part of their legal case against Lively and Reynolds.
Justin Baldoni in the film It Ends With Us – YouTube, Sony Pictures Entertainment
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On January 7, Freedman, issued a litigation hold letter to Marvel boss Kevin Feige and Disney CEO Bob Iger. The letter, connected to potential legal action against Ryan Reynolds, Lively, and others, demands that Disney and Marvel preserve all relevant records.
Specifically, the letter requests that Disney and Marvel safeguard materials concerning the creation of the “Nicepool” character, including all communications tied to the character’s development, writing, and filming. It also demands preservation of records that could suggest any intent to use the character to mock, harass, or intimidate Baldoni.
Of course, there’s no telling what this peek into Disney and Marvel’s internal communications might reveal should it come to Discovery. It’s possible this could create new problems for Disney and Marvel outside of the Lively/Reynolds/Baldoni feud.
(L-R): Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Baldoni, who is an ardent crusader against “toxic masculinity,” may not fully appreciate just how many other men there are out there in the world like Nicepool. The character was hilarious because everyone in the audience knows someone exactly like him (It should be noted that in the movie he drives a Honda Odyssey minivan by the name of “Betsy” with Avril Lavigne on the dial. Make of that what you will).
Though that begs the question, if Nicepool was actually inspired by Baldoni, then was using the character as a human shield for more bullets, arrows, blow darts etc. than can be counted (particularly shot at by Ladypool) and then having his head ultimately blown off show how Reynolds really feels about the actor/director?
(L-R): Director Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman on the set of Marvel Studios‘ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Whatever the case may be, it certainly makes for some interesting legal drama.
Do you think Nicepool is based on Justin Baldoni? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
That Park Place Editor in Chief M. Montanaro contributed to this article.
