Blake Lively is set to star in Lionsgate's upcoming action romantic comedy, 'The Survival List.' This marks her return to a leading film role, following her involvement in 'It Ends With Us.' The project comes at a time when she is navigating significant legal challenges and reports of a strained friendship with singer Taylor Swift.
'The Survival List' will feature Lively as Annie, a sophisticated reality TV producer who is reluctantly paired with a survivalist named Chopper Lane for a new show. Their professional collaboration takes a dramatic turn when a shipwreck leaves them stranded on a deserted island. Annie soon discovers that Lane is a fraud with no real survival skills, forcing her to take the lead in their fight for survival. The film is written by Tom Melia, known for his work on 'Rye Lane,' and is being produced by Lively herself, alongside Oscar-nominated producer Marc Platt.
The venture arrives as Lively continues to be involved in legal disputes stemming from her work on 'It Ends With Us.' In late 2024, she filed a complaint against co-star and director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni denied these claims and subsequently filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. While a federal judge dismissed Baldoni's counterclaims in June 2025, finding them legally insufficient, Lively's harassment case is still pending, with a trial scheduled for March 2026. Actress Isabela Ferrer, who has accused Baldoni's team of harassment, has also been involved in the legal proceedings.
Adding to the public narrative surrounding Lively are persistent reports of an estrangement from her close friend, Taylor Swift. The friendship reportedly began to fray in late 2024 when Swift's name surfaced in connection with the legal battle between Lively and Baldoni. While Swift was initially subpoenaed in the case, that action was later dropped. Insiders suggest that Swift felt betrayed by her name being drawn into the legal proceedings, leading to a period of no communication between the two.
'The Survival List' is anticipated to offer a lighter tone with its blend of action and romantic comedy, representing Lively's first major film project since the 'It Ends With Us' controversy.