As the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni continues to heat up, the latter's lawyer has sent a litigation hold letter to Marvel Studios and Disney, demanding that they share all documents relating to the development of the Nicepool character in Deadpool and Wolverine.
In the movie, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) and Logan (Hugh Jackman) encounter a Multiverse variant of the Merc With a Mouth in the Void. Nicepool is, well, nice, friendly and helpful... and not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.
The character has a number of exchanges with the OG Deadpool that certainly could be construed as making reference to some of Lively's accusations against the actor. At one point, Nicepool compliments Ladypool for “snapping back” into shape after giving birth. When Deadpool tells his variant that he's "not sure he can say that," Nicepool responds by claiming that “It’s okay, I identify as a feminist.”
Lively, who made a brief appearance as Ladypool in the movie, has accused Baldoni of sexually harassing and fat-shaming her post-partum body while filming It Ends With Us, and Baldoni is convinced that Reynolds was "flagrantly mocking" him with the creation of Nicepool.
Per Variety, the litigation hold letter calls for Marvel and Disney to preserve “any and all documents relating to the development of the Nicepool character” as well as “communications relating to the development, writing, and filming of storylines and scenes featuring Nicepool.” Baldoni's attorney is also calling for the studio to retain “any and all documents relating to or reflecting a deliberate attempt to mock, harass, ridicule, intimidate, or bully Baldoni through the character of Nicepool.”
Baldoni has not actually sued Lively or Reynolds yet, but it sounds like a suit is imminent.
What do you make of this situation? Do you think Nicepool was a blatant mockery of Baldoni, or is the actor reading way too much into this? Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section.
The MPAA gave Deadpool and Wolverine an official R-rating for: "Strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore, and sexual references."
“Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date - Deadpool & Wolverine," reads the new synopsis. "A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier... reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to - F*ck. Synopses are so f*cking stupid.”
In addition to Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in the title roles, Deadpool and Wolverine will see Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), Leslie Uggams (Blind Al), Rob Delaney (Peter), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead) And Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio) return as their respective characters, and they'll be joined by franchise newcomers Emma Corrin (The Crown) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), who will play a TV agent and Charles Xavier's evil counterpart, Cassandra Nova.
Shawn Levy directs Deadpool and Wolverine from a script by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells.
The movie is now available on Digital platform, Disney+ and DVD/Blu-ray.