Blake Lively Faces Backlash After Landing Lead Role in ‘The Survival List’: Fans Say ‘Good Luck to the Director’!

Blake Lively has found herself at the center of controversy after being announced as the star and producer of the forthcoming romantic comedy “The Survival List.

” The casting news, which broke on Thursday, has sparked a wave of backlash on social media, particularly from fans of Justin Baldoni, with whom Lively is currently embroiled in a heated legal dispute stemming from their collaboration on the 2024 film “It Ends With Us.”

The timing of the announcement has led some to call for a boycott of “The Survival List,” with comments ranging from sarcastic to downright critical.

One netizen quipped on Deadline’s Instagram post, “Good luck to the director dealing with her drama,” alluding to the tension between Lively and Baldoni during their previous project.

Another user humorously suggested, “I thought ‘The Survival List’ was the IMDBs of other actors she’s been in movies with,” poking fun at Lively’s past collaborations.

The playful jabs didn’t stop there; another commenter made a pointed remark about Lively’s estrangement from her former best friend, Taylor Swift, who allowed her song “My Tears Ricochet” to be featured in “It Ends With Us.”

This user speculated, “This movie is not getting Taylor’s music,” further highlighting the ongoing drama surrounding Lively.

Despite the roasting, Lively also received some support from her fans.

One Instagram user defended the actress, stating, “You go girl!! You have a lot of fans and believers! And anyone else who wants to come after me you can just take a hike because I have a right to like her and believe her as much as you have the right to dislike her and not believe her.”

This comment reflects the polarized opinions surrounding Lively, showcasing that while many may criticize her, she still has a strong fanbase that stands by her.

In terms of plot, “The Survival List” follows Annie, played by Lively, a highbrow reality TV producer who finds herself reluctantly assigned to a new show hosted by the infamous survival expert Chopper Lane.

The twist? When a shipwreck strands them on a deserted island, Annie discovers that Chopper is a complete fraud with no survival skills, forcing her to take charge and figure out how to keep them alive.

As they navigate their dire circumstances, the duo begins to uncover an unexpected chemistry.

This upcoming project marks Lively’s first significant role since she launched a lawsuit against Baldoni, his publicity team, and Wayfarer Studios in December 2024.

She accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and attempting to damage her reputation, allegations that he has vehemently denied.

In a counter-move, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, claiming extortion and defamation.

However, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s suit in June, and their legal battle is set to go to trial in March 2026.

In a resurfaced interview from the Forbes Power Women’s Summit in 2022, Lively acknowledged that she sometimes oversteps boundaries on film sets.

“When I went into meetings, I would just seem like I’m just there to be the actor and ready to get the gig.

I wouldn’t reveal that I actually need to have authorship in order to feel fulfilled,” she explained.

“So I think that for them, sometimes that might have felt like a rug pulled because you’re like, you’re trying to assert yourself into something that we didn’t hire you to do.”

As the drama unfolds, it remains to be seen how Lively’s new project will fare amidst the controversy.

With fans divided and the legal battle looming, “The Survival List” is already generating buzz—albeit not all of it positive.

Whether the film will find success or face challenges at the box office will likely depend on how audiences respond to the ongoing narrative surrounding its star.

In the meantime, Lively’s supporters are hopeful that she will rise above the controversy and deliver a memorable performance in what promises to be an entertaining rom-com.

As for the director of “The Survival List,” they may indeed have their work cut out for them navigating the complexities of Lively’s recent public image and the expectations of fans.