Blake Lively is set to star in and co-produce a new action romantic comedy titled "The Survival List" for Lionsgate. This marks Lively's first role since she filed a lawsuit against her "It Ends With Us" director and co-star, Justin Baldoni.
"The Survival List," penned by Tom Melia, centers on Annie, a highbrow reality TV producer who is unwillingly assigned to a new show hosted by Chopper Lane, a famous survival expert. The story takes a turn when a shipwreck leaves them stranded on a deserted island, where Annie discovers that Chopper is a fraud who knows nothing about survival. Forced to work together to survive, they begin to develop an unexpected connection.
Lionsgate acquired the rights to the film on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Lively will co-produce the movie alongside Marc Platt, known for his work on "Wicked" and the live-action "How to Train Your Dragon". While other cast members and a director have yet to be announced, the film is anticipated to be released in late 2026 at the earliest, as filming has not yet begun.
The announcement of Lively's involvement in "The Survival List" comes amid her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni. In December 2024, Lively filed a legal complaint against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and misconduct on the set of "It Ends With Us". She also accused him of orchestrating a smear campaign against her during the film's press cycle. Baldoni has denied these allegations.
Baldoni, along with his producing partner Jamey Heath, publicist Jennifer Abel, and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, responded by filing a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, claiming civil extortion, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy. However, a judge dismissed Baldoni's lawsuit in June 2025. The trial for Lively's case against Baldoni is scheduled for March 2026.
Lively publicly addressed the situation in May 2025 during an appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers," where she expressed her concern for women afraid to speak out about their experiences. Despite the legal proceedings, Lively is moving forward with her career, and "The Survival List" marks her first new role since the controversy began.
The news of Lively's new role has sparked online discussions, with some social media users calling for a boycott of "The Survival List," while others are urging people to separate her career from the legal controversy. Some fans of Justin Baldoni have expressed their criticism of Lively's casting in the film.
