LOS ANGELES (AP) — “It Ends With Us” actor and director Justin Baldoni has sued his co-star Blake Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion on Thursday in the latest move in a bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic drama.

Ryan Reynolds may have been named in a $400 million lawsuit by Justin Baldoni, but that isn’t stopping him from expanding his soccer empire.

The "Deadpool" franchise is named in Justin Baldoni's new lawsuit against "It Ends With Us" costar Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds. Here's why.

Baldoni, his studio Wayfarer, and their publicists are alleging civil extortion, defamation and a slew of contract-related claims about the film It Ends With Us.

Ryan Reynolds has announced he is investing in another football club, with the significant business move coming the same day it was revealed that he and his wife Blake Lively are being sued for $400m by her It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni.

The ongoing legal drama between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively continues, now extending to the Marvel universe and Ryan Reynolds' box-office hit "Deadpool & Wolverine." Lively's actor husband is again being swept up in the mounting legal issues surrounding Baldoni,

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, had said for weeks he planned to file a suit against Lively, Baldoni’s co-star on “It End With Us,” and Reynolds, Lively’s husband.

The lawsuit is the latest legal action in a feud tied to the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” which starred Ms. Lively and Mr. Baldoni, who also directed the film.

Baldoni, in a lawsuit filed in New York federal court on Thursday, alleges extortion, defamation and claims related to breach of contract, among several others. He’s joined by his film studio, Wayfarer, and its chief executive Jamey Heath, and their public relations representatives, Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel. They seek at least $400 million.

Baldoni and Lively have been at odds since the now-endless It Ends With Us press tour, after which rumors of sexual harassment allegations spilled into the press. By the end of Us, Baldoni had filed suit against the Times for its bombshell story accusing him of harassing Lively and orchestrating a smear campaign against him.

EXCLUSIVE: With yet another week of more lawsuits in the ever increasing obloquy fray between It Ends With Us stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the court of public opinion has proved as much of a field of operations as the state and federal dockets.