Don’t call it a comeback.
Blake Lively is reportedly masterminding a Hollywood revival after she settled her lawsuit against “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.
The “Gossip Girl” alum kicked off her career comeback plan by attending the Met Gala 2026 hours after announcing the settlement.
“That was no accident – she knew all eyes would be on her and she wanted them to be,” a source told the Sun of Lively’s shocking appearance at fashion’s biggest night.
“It was a clear message that she had drawn a line on this awful saga and that she is ready to publicly move forward with her head held high, rather than hiding away,” the insider added.
“While she’s quietly pursuing Justin to cover her legal fees post-settlement, Blake feels she’s spent enough time hunkering down and doesn’t believe she has any reason to disappear and retreat from the spotlight.”
Lively, 38, is reportedly attempting to go back to her romance roots in acting.
“She wants to go back to people remembering her for being a good actress, as that all seems to have been forgotten in all of this,” the Sun claimed.
“Every story became about her being a ‘mean girl’ and she’s devastated because she thinks it’s undone all the years of TV and movie hits she’s had,” the source told the outlet.
“At times, when the backlash was at its worst, she felt like she was the most hated woman in Hollywood, and she wants to desperately wants to rehab her image. She wants to get back to mass appeal romantic comedy leads she hopes will make audiences warm to her again.”
The “A Simple Favor” star reportedly has several projects in the works, including “The Survival List,” in which she portrays a TV producer who becomes stranded on a remote island with a celebrity survival expert.
Lively is also pursuing a big-screen adaptation of author Liane Moriarty’s “The Husband’s Secret.”
“This has been in the works for a few years but Blake is now fully focused on it,” the source told the Sun.
“It’s just the kind of project she wants — a relatable lead, a twisty subject matter and a powerhouse novel with a built-in fan base,” the insider added.
Lively is also set to star in the romance “The Making Of” alongside Richard Gere and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“It’s also important for Blake to continue with her executive producing – she has done it twice before, on Another Simple Favor, and on It Ends With Us,” the source told the outlet.
“But she was reported to be feuding with Anna Kendrick while shooting the former, and obviously we all know how the latter turned out,” the insider added.
“She wants to show that she can produce movies without all the backstage drama being the talking point and follow in the footsteps of someone like Nicole Kidman or Reese Witherspoon.”
Last Monday, Lively and Baldoni, 42, settled the actress’s 2024 suit, in which she claimed the actor sexually harassed her on the set of “It Ends With Us.”
