Don’t call it a comeback — Blake Lively is already plotting her next Hollywood chapter.
After settling her high-profile legal battle with Justin Baldoni, the “It Ends With Us” star is reportedly orchestrating a carefully timed return to the spotlight.
The actress appeared at the Met Gala 2026 just hours after news of the settlement broke — a move insiders say was far from random.
“That was no accident — she knew all eyes would be on her and she wanted them to be,” a source told The Sun about Lively’s headline-making appearance at fashion’s biggest night.
Blake Lively — seen above at the Met Gala 2026 — is reportedly orchestrating a Hollywood comeback following the settlement of her lawsuit against “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.
“That was no accident — she knew all eyes would be on her and she wanted them to be,” a source told The Sun of Blake Lively’s headline-making appearance at the Met Gala 2026 last week.
“It was a clear message that she had drawn a line under this awful saga and was ready to move forward publicly with her head held high, rather than hiding away,” the insider added.
“While she’s quietly pursuing Justin Baldoni to cover her legal fees following the settlement, Blake feels she’s spent enough time laying low and doesn’t believe she has any reason to retreat from the spotlight.”
The 38-year-old actress is also reportedly looking to return to her romantic-comedy roots.
“She wants people to remember her as a talented actress again, because that seems to have been lost amid all of this,” the source claimed.
Blake Lively — seen above at the 2024 LACMA Art+Film Gala — is reportedly looking to return to her romantic-comedy roots in Hollywood.
“She wants people to remember her as a talented actress again, because that seems to have been overshadowed by everything that’s happened,” The Sun claimed. (Pictured: Blake Lively at the “It Ends With Us” photocall.)
“Every headline became about her being a ‘mean girl,’ and she’s devastated because she feels it has erased years of successful TV shows and hit movies,” the source told the outlet.
“At the height of the backlash, she felt like she was the most disliked woman in Hollywood. Now, she’s determined to repair her image and return to starring in crowd-pleasing romantic comedies that audiences can connect with again.”
The “A Simple Favor” actress is also reportedly lining up several new projects, including “The Survival List,” where she is set to play a television producer stranded on a remote island alongside a celebrity survival expert.
Lively is additionally said to be developing a film adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel “The Husband’s Secret.”
The “A Simple Favor” star — seen above leaving court in 2026 — is reportedly lining up several new projects as part of her Hollywood comeback.
Blake Lively is also attached to star in “The Survival List,” playing a television producer who becomes stranded on a remote island alongside a celebrity survival expert. (Pictured: Lively at a soccer game.)
“This project has been in development for several years, but Blake is now fully focused on making it happen,” a source told The Sun.
“It’s exactly the type of role she wants right now — a relatable lead character, a suspenseful storyline and a bestselling novel with a loyal fan base already built in,” the insider added.
Lively is also reportedly set to appear in the romance film “The Making Of” alongside Richard Gere and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Last Monday, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni — seen above on the set of a movie — reached a settlement in the actress’s 2024 lawsuit, in which she accused her “It Ends With Us” co-star of sexual harassment during production.
“It’s also important for Blake to continue building her résumé as an executive producer — she’s already done it on ‘Another Simple Favor’ and ‘It Ends With Us,’” a source told The Sun.
“But there were reports that she clashed with Anna Kendrick while filming the former, and obviously everyone knows how the latter situation unfolded,” the insider added.
“She wants to prove she can successfully produce films without behind-the-scenes drama becoming the main storyline and hopes to follow the path carved out by stars like Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.
Both Blake Lively and the “Jane the Virgin” actor Justin Baldoni — seen above on the set of “It Ends With Us” — reportedly received no financial payout as part of their lawsuit settlement.
