Justin Baldoni involves Colleen Hoover in legal dispute with Blake Lively

Colleen Hoover, the author of the book that inspired the 2024 film It Ends With Us, was dragged into the $400 million legal battle between the film’s star, Blake Lively, and director, Justin Baldoni.

Justin, 40, submitted a series of alleged emails he exchanged with Colleen, 45, in 2019 in court.

In 2019, Justin and his studio, Wayfarer, acquired the film rights to It Ends With Us, the book that Colleen published in 2016.

In one alleged message, dated February 1, 2019, Justin told Colleen he was excited to read the book. He said he had read glowing reviews of the book, which excited him.

“Yes, please send over a e-book but I also just purchased it on paperback as I like supporting authors,” he wrote.

The director also invited Colleen to a screening of his film Five Feet Apart. Another alleged message dated April 11, 2019, Justin wrote to Colleen after finishing her book.

Justin, who was shooting the television show Jane The Virgin at the time, wrote, “I’m finally coming up for air from the release of the film but still shooting Jane for another two weeks. (by the way were you able to see it? Would love to know your thoughts) We actually started filming the final episode today…crazy! So grateful.”

“So, I haven’t been able to get IT ENDS WITH US off my mind. Such an important story! So damn romantic and beautiful and tragic and hopeful,” he said.

Justin continued, “I can’t even imagine how many women there are who are stuck in a relationship like this and via this story could find strength to create a better life for themselves.”

Justin included an alleged email Colleen wrote him the same day on April 11, 2019. Colleen allegedly said, “Thank you so much for the email! I wasn’t expecting you to read it so quickly. I would love to talk to you more about the project.”

“It Ends With Us is important to me, though. I would love more involvement on this film. I’ve actually been working on a script for it already, along with a producer friend of mine,” the alleged email from Colleen continued.

She allegedly added, “I realize your experience with film far outweighs mine, and based on the magnificent adaption you did of Five Feet Apart, I’m confident you could do this book justice and that our visions will align.”

The author allegedly continued, “I feel good about this, though, I feel good about you. I’ve seen your past work, your passion and your live for humanity and I honestly feel there’s no one better for the project.”

In another message, Colleen allegedly suggested that Justin play the main male role in the film. Justin and Colleen’s relationship appears to have become strained since the film’s release. The author showed support for Blake after she filed a sexual harassment complaint against Justin and coproducer Jamey Heath.

Blake accused the duo of acting inappropriately on set and coming into her trailer uninvited while she was breastfeeding. The actress claimed Justin hired a crisis PR team to smear her in the press after she complained after their alleged behavior.

Justin and Jamey denied all allegations of wrongdoing. “You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,” Colleen wrote on social media with a link to a story about Blake’s complaint. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”

In his lawsuit, Justin accused Blake of using her and her husband Ryan Reynolds’ power to seize control of the film. He claimed she demanded her cut of the film be released despite his cut testing higher with test audiences. He claimed Blake was the one who smeared him in the press not the other way around.

Justin and Wayfarer’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told In Touch, “This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media. It is clear based on our own all out willingness to provide all complete text messages, emails, video footage and other documentary evidence that was shared between the parties in real time, that this is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth. Ms. Lively will never again be allowed to continue to exploit actual victims of real harassment solely for her personal reputation gain at the expense of those without power. Let’s not forget, Ms. Lively and her team attempted to bulldoze reputations and livelihoods for heinously selfish reasons through their own dangerous manipulation of the media before even taking any actual legal action. We know the truth, and now the public does too. Justin and his team have nothing to hide, documents do not lie.”

Following Justin’s lawsuit was filed, Blake’s lawyer told In Touch, “The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”