James Brolin Shares Support for Justin Baldoni amid Legal Battle with Blake Lively: ‘I Hope It Works Out’ (Exclusive)

Brolin directed Baldoni in the 2011 short film ‘Royal Reunion’

James Brolin (left), Justin Baldoni.Credit : Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty; Gotham/WireImage

NEED TO KNOW

James Brolin is sharing his pride in friend Justin Baldoni
The two developed a friendship after working together on the short film Royal Reunion
“I don’t understand what’s going on right now, but I hope it works out,” Brolin says of Baldoni’s ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively

James Brolin is sharing his appreciation for Justin Baldoni amid the actor-director’s ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively.

In a recent wide-ranging interview with PEOPLE, Brolin, 84, opened up about getting his big break as a director on the hit series Hotel, which ran from 1983 to 1988, and subsequently directing Baldoni in the 2011 short film Royal Reunion, in which he also starred.

“He asked so many questions, he was so helpful,” Brolin recalls of working with the Jane the Virgin star. “But I didn’t realize he was learning, because very soon after that, this guy’s directing his own stuff.”

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James Brolin.Slaven Vlasic/Getty

“I’m so proud of Justin Baldoni because God, he’s written two wonderful books on being a man and being courteous and teaching boys not to fear their fears — and now he’s directed three movies. He started off with one episode of Jane the Virgin and now he’s directed three pictures and written two books and does TED talks to help people.”

Of Baldoni’s ongoing legal saga with Blake Lively over the making of It Ends With Us, Brolin says, “I don’t understand what’s going on right now, but I hope it works out.”

Justin Baldoni on August 8, 2024 on NBC’s TODAY.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Lively accused her It Ends With Us director-costar Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, which he has denied. His counterclaims against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, which involve allegations of extortion and defamation, were later dismissed, and his legal team opted not to refile amended versions of those claims.

Their trial is set for March 2026 in New York, and attorneys for both Lively and Baldoni have indicated that they plan to testify during the proceedings.

Brolin, who last starred in the Netflix series Ransom Canyon, tells PEOPLE that his focus these days now lies in directing. The Emmy winner currently has a number of projects in different stages of development, ranging widely in genre. It’s something he’s taken with him from acting into his directing career.

“I don’t have any preferences. They’re varied. It’s hard to say I like a certain kind of thing,” he says of what he’s drawn to.