In Hollywood, drama isn’t limited to the silver screen. Sometimes, the real action happens behind the scenes where egos, contracts, and legal disputes take center stage. The following controversies remind us that in show business, the most compelling performances can occur when the cameras aren’t rolling.
It Ends With Us — or does it?
The movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel It Ends With Us has already stirred plenty of emotions, and not just for fans of the book. The film’s biggest headline isn’t about its storyline but rather the very public clash between lead actress Blake Lively and director/actor Justin Baldoni.
According to reports, Lively alleges that Baldoni’s handling of the production was far from professional, blaming him for sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment on set, and launching a smear campaign against her. Baldoni fired back, claiming Lively hijacked his film, sidelined him from the movie’s promotions, and with her husband Ryan Reynolds, launched a smear campaign against him.
Disputes in Hollywood aren’t uncommon, but this clash threatened to end the movie even before it was shown. It Ends With Us was eventually released and did decent business at the box office. But the off-screen drama is still ongoing. Will Lively and Baldoni resolve their issues in court or settle outside? Will they leave it to their lawyers to hammer out a settlement, or does it end with them?
Bryan Singer and the X-Men franchise: A power struggle
Before superhero movies dominated the box office, X-Men set the stage for modern comic book adaptations. But behind the scenes, director Bryan Singer’s alleged erratic behaviour put the production in turmoil. Reportedly, Singer would take narcotics on set, which left him incapacitated, leading to chaos among the cast and crew. It gets worse.
Allegations of sexual abuse and assault surfaced against Singer and his friends and associates. The sexual assault allegations would haunt Singer throughout his career, though that didn’t stop him from helming a few more movies after X-Men.
In 2017, Singer was fired midway through filming Bohemian Rhapsody, although he denied the allegations of sexual misconduct on set. Singer was also tapped to direct another superhero film but was dropped from the project. This just proves that even in Hollywood, workplace accountability isn’t just a plot device but a legal necessity.
Don’t Worry Darling (or maybe do)
What was meant to be a feminist thriller turned into a real-life soap opera when Don’t Worry Darling became a battleground for its cast and crew. Allegations of favoritism, tensions on the set, and questionable hiring practices put the movie in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Did Shia LaBeouf exit the production due to schedule conflicts, or was he fired due to his on-set behavior? Or was he replaced by Harry Styles so director Olivia Wilde could date the pop star?
At the heart of the controversy was a rumored feud between Wilde and star Florence Pugh. Pugh reportedly was at odds with Wilde’s on-set behavior, especially when the latter was with Styles. This explained why Pugh distanced herself and limited her promotional activities for the film.
And if that wasn’t enough, Wilde had split with her longtime partner Jason Sudeikis during filming. They claimed their split was “amicable,” but people started to question it when rumors of Wilde and Styles dating started spreading. Things came to a head at Don’t Worry Darling’s promotional tour in Las Vegas when Wilde was served custody papers while on stage. (Sudeikis later claimed he had no control over where and when the papers were to be served.)
Related reading: What do you do when you get served legal papers in an inappropriate way?
Don’t Worry Darling eventually made it to theaters. It’s unclear if the people who watched it were undeterred by its behind-the-scenes drama or were motivated by the fiasco, but the movie performed well. Maybe the filmmakers didn’t need to worry at all.
Hollywood: Where the courtroom drama rivals the silver screen
These cases highlight an undeniable truth: in Hollywood, the law plays just as big a role as the scripts themselves. Whether it’s contract disputes, workplace misconduct, or professional sabotage, legal issues in the entertainment industry can be as gripping as any thriller. And for those caught in the crossfire, having a skilled legal team is essential — just ask anyone in Tinseltown who’s had to swap the red carpet for the courtroom.
At LaGrandeur & Williams, we understand that legal battles, whether in entertainment or family law, are high stakes. If you find yourself in a legal dispute (professional or personal), having experienced attorneys by your side makes all the difference. So contact us for legal expertise. Because sometimes, the real drama isn’t in the movies — it’s in the contracts.