Please Exclude Them From the Narrative

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Disney and Marvel are choosing to stay neutral amidst the ongoing legal disagreements between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, which means the truth about whether the character Nicepool, a man-bunned “male feminist” version of Deadpool, is inspired by Justin Baldoni may never be revealed. In an exclusive report by Deadline on April 29, Wayfarer Studios – the production company jointly owned by Baldoni and Jamey Heath – has requested that Judge Liman deny Marvel’s request to dismiss the subpoena. This way, they could uncover through further investigation whether Nicepool was indeed modeled after Baldoni or not.

Marvel asserts that the data they’re refusing to disclose during discovery is “especially confidential” since it pertains to the creation of a character within an ongoing film series – in other words, they don’t want any Marvel-related spoilers about Deadpool or his associates to be accidentally exposed through the legal process. This seems like a clever way for a studio known for its secrecy, surprise cameos, and post-credit scenes to justify their actions, as getting involved might compromise the unique charm that Marvel fans have come to expect from the brand. However, this argument appears slightly too convenient, given that a potential court case could potentially reveal a major spoiler for Marvel’s upcoming films. To be fair, Wayfarer is only interested in information about Nicepool, but it remains unclear whether they will actually be able to obtain it.

It’s clear that Marvel isn’t the only one looking for a way out of this situation, as Taylor Swift has been working diligently since the start of the year to distance herself from any connections related to it. The initial discussions surrounding the potential testimony of Swift, or her close friends like Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s friend Hugh Jackman, in this complicated trial were quite intense. However, as things progress, it seems that many others are choosing to stay clear of this contentious legal case.

In February, Swift was missing from Ryan Reynold’s Super Bowl party, rumored to be due to reports that Lively had referred to Swift as one of her “dragons” in a dispute with Baldoni over scenes in “It Ends With Us”. Swift’s displeasure about this isn’t unexpected. Not only does the singer carefully manage her public persona, but it must sting to learn that a friend may have exploited your friendship without your knowledge. However, according to People magazine, Lively and Swift have moved past this incident and are on good terms again. A source close to Swift said, “Taylor was deeply hurt by this situation, so she’s glad they were able to move on from it and leave it all behind because it wasn’t something she took lightly.” It remains unclear if everything is truly resolved, as Travis Kelce recently unfollowed Reynolds on Instagram. Could he too be distancing himself from the situation?

The initial assessment of the Wayfarer-Lively case drew parallels with the Depp-Heard libel trial in 2022, as both were initially perceived as high-profile cases. However, unlike the former which revolved around domestic issues, this case concerns workplace matters. Much like the Depp-Heard trial, celebrities involved in the Wayfarer-Lively case were rumored to have potential witnesses such as Elon Musk and James Franco. Yet, these figures never materialized during the proceedings. It’s a known fact that celebrities generally avoid courtrooms: they dislike being put on trial and testifying under oath. There exists a form of publicity that’s negative, and given the distinct sides in this case, supporting one party could lead to long-term unfavorable consequences. At present, there’s no indication that the Wayfarer-Lively case will be settled soon. However, when it comes time for trial, the parties involved might find themselves isolated.

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2025-04-30 00:54