Justin Baldoni is seeking communications made about Ryan Reynolds’ Nicepool character in an attempt to show it was used to “bully” him, amid a legal battle with costar Blake Lively over her sexual harassment and retaliation claims.
Baldoni’s lawyers sent a litigation hold letter to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Disney CEO Bob Iger on January 7, demanding they hold onto documents related to the development of Nicepool. The character is a minor part in the upcoming film Deadpool & Wolverine, which Reynolds co-wrote and also stars in.
The letter claims that Baldoni wants “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.” This is allegedly in an attempt to support his claim that Nicepool was used as a means to mock or bully him.
Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, including claims that he criticized her body after she gave birth to their fourth child. The dispute escalated when it was revealed that Reynolds had contributed lines of dialogue to the romantic drama It Ends With Us.
Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman has denied Lively’s claims, stating that there is no evidence connecting Nicepool to Baldoni. However, Freedman has claimed that the character “relates” to Baldoni and that he plans to sue Lively and others soon.
The situation has led to Baldoni being cut by his agency William Morris Endeavor, with the agency denying that Reynolds pressured them to drop him as a client.
Source: https://people.com/justin-baldoni-legal-letter-disney-ryan-reynolds-nicepool-character-8774673