Justin Baldoni’s ‘Pac-Man’ Movie in Doubt Amid Blake Lively Legal Battle

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In August, Justin Baldoni felt that Pac-Man, the iconic yellow character from the ’80s video game known for consuming pellets, could serve as a hero to influence a more positive narrative concerning the launch of “It Ends with Us.

Ever since the summer heatwave, whispers of a spat between me and my fellow actor Blake Lively have been swirling in the entertainment world. I was eager to change the narrative. On August 18th, I reached out to my PR team with an idea that I believed would propel me forward: directing a movie based on the classic game, Pac-Man.

However, it appears that the development of Pac-Man, which Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have been working on since 2022, might not be part of his plans anymore. This project, along with at least two others, is now uncertain as tensions with Lively escalated from an online intrigue to a full-blown legal dispute.

Over the past period, reliable sources indicate that Baldoni has experienced significant setbacks, including losing multiple positions and hundreds of millions of dollars, due to a legal dispute. This controversy started when Lively filed a complaint on December 21st, alleging sexual harassment by Baldoni during the filming of It Ends with Us, followed by a post-release defamation campaign. As a result, both Baldoni and Wayfarer were terminated by WME. The agency had been instrumental in helping Wayfarer develop their projects and finding external films to finance as an executive producer.

Beyond Pac-Man, it’s uncertain which other projects may have been affected. However, given that the adaptation of this iconic ’80s video game could potentially be revived at a later time for Baldoni, speculations arise. Confidential sources reveal that nearly every associate involved in Wayfarer’s business dealings are engaging in discussions. Wayfarer, with its substantial financial resources, stands out as one of the few thriving indie financing companies amidst industry struggles. Yet, Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, who Baldoni is suing, hold significant influence within Hollywood. Therefore, it remains uncertain to what extent Wayfarer may sustain any damage in these circumstances.

Bandai Namco, the gaming company famous for creating Pac-Man, failed to provide comments regarding the ongoing project that sees Thor: Ragnarok scriptwriter Christopher Yost working on the script.

Established by Baldoni and billionaire Steve Sarowitz, Wayfarer is currently headed by CEO Jamey Heath. (Prior to its rebranding as Wayfarer Studios in 2020, the company underwent multiple transformations.) The trio, which includes Baldoni and Sarowitz, are long-time friends and followers of the Baha’i faith. It is reported that Sarowitz, who injected $125 million into the company in 2021, is resolute about providing whatever means necessary to support both Baldoni and Wayfarer.

Wayfarer has been instrumental in initiating, funding, and overseeing various projects right from their conception, including the successful $51 million earning film “It Ends with Us”. Additionally, they have poured resources into external ventures like the Alcon-produced “Garfield” movie series, which is distributed by Sony.

Wayfarer boasts an array of upcoming productions, among them being “Eleanor the Great,” a directorial venture by Scarlett Johansson. This project has garnered support from Tristar and Sony Pictures Classics. Additionally, they’re working on “Code 3,” an action-comedy starring Rainn Wilson, which premiered at TIFF last year but currently lacks a U.S. distributor.

Wayfarer is planning to premiere the sports drama “The Senior,” led by Michael Chiklis, in cinemas on March 7. However, it’s unknown who will be handling the distribution. Additionally, they also possess the queer romance film “A Nice Indian Boy” featuring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff. This movie received positive feedback at South by Southwest last year and was recently screened at Palm Springs this month. Yet, it doesn’t have a distributor as of now.

Wayfarer currently has several book adaptations underway, such as Sam Tschida’s “Errands & Espionage,” which follows the story of a divorcee being recruited by the CIA, and Kirsty Greenwood’s “The Love Of My Afterlife,” where a woman encounters her afterlife soulmate in a waiting room.

Despite the intense conflict, no fresh projects have emerged for Wayfarer yet. However, it’s been reported that they are keen on exploring a potential new agreement, which could serve as a reassurance that there remains interest in working with them.

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2025-01-30 02:57