Justin Baldoni’s highly anticipated Pac-Man movie may no longer be in his future as his ongoing legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively continues to shake up his career.
Baldoni, who had been developing the live-action adaptation of the classic arcade game since 2022, initially hoped the project would help shift the narrative away from the intense media scrutiny surrounding his feud with Lively. According to a text sent to his PR team on Aug. 18, Baldoni suggested that announcing his next directorial project could allow him to “move towards the future.”
However, the Pac-Man film is now one of at least three projects reportedly in limbo as Baldoni’s clash with Lively escalates into a full-scale legal war.
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Baldoni’s Career Takes a Hit
In recent days, sources close to Baldoni have stated that he has “lost three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars” as a result of the controversy. The fallout began when Lively filed a complaint on Dec. 21, accusing him of sexual harassment and an alleged smear campaign following the release of It Ends With Us.
Shortly after, Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios were dropped by WME, a major agency that had played a key role in securing financing and packaging projects for the company. Insiders now say that nearly every partner working with Wayfarer is “having a conversation” about the company’s future.
While it remains unclear what other projects Baldoni has lost, sources suggest that Pac-Man could potentially be revisited later. But with Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds whom Baldoni is also suing exerting considerable influence in Hollywood, the extent of the damage remains uncertain.
Wayfarer Studios at a Crossroads
Wayfarer Studios, co-founded by Baldoni and billionaire Steve Sarowitz, has built a reputation for developing and financing films, including It Ends With Us, which grossed $51 million. The company has also invested in outside projects, such as Garfield, a film distributed by Sony.
However, with no new deals in sight amid the ongoing legal dispute, Wayfarer’s future appears uncertain.
Upcoming projects include Eleanor the Great, the directorial debut of Scarlett Johansson, and the Rainn Wilson-led Code 3, which premiered at TIFF but has yet to secure domestic distribution. The company is also set to release the sports drama The Senior on March 7, though its distributor remains unknown.
Despite the controversy, sources close to Sarowitz insist he is determined to use whatever resources necessary to clear Baldoni’s name and keep Wayfarer afloat.
For now, Baldoni’s Pac-Man film, like his career, remains in limbo.
Source: THR