Ryan Reynolds faces 'serious rebuilding' after It Ends With Us scandal
Ryan Reynolds faces a career reckoning after the It Ends With Us scandal, with a Star source saying he has serious rebuilding to do. Industry confidence has reportedly dipped following Blake Lively's dispute with Justin Baldoni, leaving some filmmakers wary of granting his company total creative control.
According to reports citing an industry insider, the 49-year-old actor has privately acknowledged that restoring the trust he enjoyed before the production fight could take years. The fallout follows his deep involvement in the troubled It Ends With Us shoot and the legal and public battle that followed. For more on Hollywood's latest celebrity fallout, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
Key Takeaways
- A Star Magazine source says Ryan Reynolds privately admits he has "serious rebuilding to do" after the It Ends With Us scandal.
- Backlash intensified after Blake Lively said Reynolds rewrote the film's rooftop scene and over a criticized email to author Colleen Hoover.
- Some industry figures are reportedly less willing to give Reynolds and his company total creative control on future projects.
- Reynolds remains active on Deadpool and a sailing reality show with Hugh Jackman, but prestige opportunities may be narrowing.
What sparked the backlash against Ryan Reynolds?
Ryan Reynolds became entangled in the drama surrounding his wife Blake Lively's friction with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni. Public criticism grew after Lively told E! News that Reynolds rewrote the movie's well-known rooftop scene, a revelation that surprised fans who had viewed the moment as central to the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel.
Reynolds also drew backlash over an email he sent to Hoover after the film's 2024 premiere. Star Magazine previously reported that fans criticized the message as "manipulative," adding fuel to an already heated debate over how the production was handled. The dispute later escalated into legal action, with Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios filing a $400 million countersuit against Lively and Reynolds.
Why are filmmakers reportedly wary of Ryan Reynolds now?
The insider quoted by Star said Reynolds' heavy involvement in the difficult production and its aftermath has left some people in Hollywood cautious. "His significant involvement with the difficult It Ends With Us production and aftermath has made people wary of him and less willing than they were a couple of years ago to hand over total creative control of a given project to him and his company," the source told the outlet.
The same source described Reynolds as having a "domineering and exacting personality," claiming some filmmakers are "downright scared" of working with him at the level of control he previously enjoyed. Yahoo Entertainment, summarizing the Star report, noted Reynolds still appeared upbeat at Comic-Con this summer even as the behind-the-scenes situation was described as considerably darker.
Is Ryan Reynolds' career in long-term jeopardy?
Sources cited in the reports do not suggest Reynolds is stepping away from Hollywood, but they portray a narrower path than the actor may want. The insider said Reynolds "grew up wanting to make a fortune and win Oscars, but the prestige projects are not materializing." Rom-coms and action dramas that once helped define his brand are reportedly harder to come by.
That could matter as Reynolds, who turned 49 this year, looks beyond his marquee superhero role. The source put it bluntly: "He doesn't want to be still playing Deadpool when he's 70, that's for sure!" Whether the current fallout proves temporary or lasting will likely depend on how both the Baldoni litigation and public perception evolve.
What is Ryan Reynolds working on now?
Despite the reported turbulence, Reynolds still has major projects in motion. According to the Star source, he is writing the next Deadpool installment and developing a sailing reality show with longtime friend Hugh Jackman.
Those ventures suggest Reynolds' commercial pull remains intact even as industry relationships may need repair. Star Magazine's insider maintained Reynolds knows the rebuilding work is real, even if his public persona has stayed joking and upbeat. How that balance plays out could shape the next chapter of one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.