In public, Ryan Reynolds is defending Blake Lively, as his wife appears determined to go to trial in her lawsuit against Justin in Baldoni.

But the “Deadpool” star feels much differently in private and has urged his wife to end her legal fight, especially as he’s been placed on her witness list and could be called to testify, according to entertainment writer and gossip columnist Rob Shuter. Reynolds continues to be concerned about the extent to which her ongoing litigation against her “It Ends With Us” director and co-star has damaged his Hollywood reputation.

“He’s worried this is going to destroy him too,” a source told Shuter for the writer’s Naughty But Nice Substack. “His brand, his reputation — everything.”

Reynolds grew increasingly worried about the fallout from his wife’s lawsuit after she suffered a major setback earlier this month. The federal judge in the case dismissed 10 of 13 of her claims against Baldoni, including her sexual harassment claims. The trial is scheduled for May 18.

Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024, alleging that she was subject to sexual harassment during the making of the 2024 film. She also alleged defamation and retaliation, accusing Baldoni and his production company of orchestrating a social media smear campaign to damage her reputation during the film’s August 2024 release amid fear that she would file a sexual harassment claim.

Baldoni and his lawyers argued that Lively used exaggerated charges of sexual misconduct to seize control of the film and to cast Baldoni “as a villain.” They said that Lively’s allegations about on-set behavior amounted to nothing more than “minor grievances.”

Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios also countersued Lively and Reynolds, accusing the Hollywood power couple of defamation and extortion.

Judge Lewis J. Liman in Manhattan dismissed Baldoni’s claims against Reynolds and Lively last June. But Liman’s latest ruling also dismissed individual claims against Baldoni for sexual harassment, though he allowed to remain intact two retaliation claims against Wayferer Studios, and a breach of contract claim.

While Reynolds is supposed to play a supporting role in his wife’s legal drama, critics have long wondered if the “Deadpool” actor was a partner — or even a driving force — in her alleged efforts to seize control of “It Ends With Us.”

During the back-and-forth discovery process, Reynolds’ private communications have been made public. He’s either come across as a supportive husband or as an entitled movie star, asserting his power to bully the less famous Baldoni into giving his wife what she wanted.

Baldoni also alleged that Reynolds was complicit in trying to ruin his career. For example, he said that Reynolds told their talent agency, WME, that Baldoni was a “sexual predator” and urged WME to drop him as a client, Page Six reported. That’s what WME did, dropping Baldoni as a client after the New York Times published a bombshell report in December 2024, sympathetic to Lively and giving the public a preview of her lawsuit against Baldoni.

But Hollywood insiders have said that Lively’s lawsuit hasn’t done her career any favors, especially after her sexual harassment claims were dismissed.

“This lawsuit has ruined her in Hollywood,” a source, who once worked with the “Gossip Girl” star, told the Daily Mail in an article published over the weekend.

“A lot of people think this should have been settled already,” the source told Shuter. “Now it’s getting bigger, messier, and harder to control.”

The Daily Mail report didn’t address whether Lively’s lawsuit has adversely affected Reynolds, but the actor, being called as a witness, only raises the stakes for him, Shuter reported.

“That’s a nightmare scenario for him,” the insider told Shutr. “He’s now part of the story whether he likes it or not.”

While Lively is determined to keep fighting, Reynolds wishes she would back down, according to Shuter.

“He wants out,” the source told Shuter. “Before this takes them both down with it.”

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