Justin Baldoni may be in a messy ongoing legal battle after the release of his summer blockbuster, It Ends With Us — but his first film of 2025, The Senior, is waiting in the wings.
While Baldoni won’t appear in the sports drama, which is set to release on March 7, he does serve as a producer alongside his independent production company, Wayfarer Studios, and Allen Media Group’s Freestyle Releasing.
The film, which is based on a true story, follows former college football player Mike Flynt (played by Michael Chiklis) as he discovers he has a second chance at his dream after being kicked off his team 35 years earlier.
“We’re honored to partner with Freestyle to bring Mike Flynt’s inspiring story to audiences nationwide,” Wayfarer’s President of Production, Andrew Calof, said in a November 2024 statement. “With Michael Chiklis leading an incredible cast, Rod Lurie’s direction, and the remarkable work of Mark Ciardi, the team at Ten Acre Films, and our partners at Unity Entertainment, we’re excited to share this powerful message about never giving up on your dreams.”
What’s Justin Baldoni Doing Next After ‘It Ends With Us’ Drama?
The Senior’s release comes less than six months after It Ends With Us — which Baldoni produced, directed and starred in — hit theaters and instantly made waves for the contention between Baldoni and his costar Blake Lively.
After rumors of a rift between the duo began following the movie’s Los Angeles premiere — where Baldoni did not appear alongside the rest of the cast — Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024 against Baldoni accusing him and Wayfarer Studios of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment and launching an alleged smear campaign against her. Baldoni, for his part, denied all the allegations, and filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloan. The actor cited civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy and more for his reasoning behind the suit. (A trial date is currently set for March 9, 2026.)
As the It Ends With Us battle ages on, keep scrolling for everything to know about Baldoni’s next project, The Senior:
When Is ‘The Senior’ Coming Out?
The Senior’s theatrical release is set for Friday, March 7.
What Is ‘The Senior’ About?
Based on a true story, The Senior follows Mike Flynt (Chiklis), a man searching for a second chance after being kicked off his college football team 35 years prior. When the now 59-year-old learns he has one year left of eligibility to return to his old school and earn his degree — plus try out for his former team — he jumps at the chance to redeem his past and prove that it’s never too late to tackle your dreams.
What Has Been Cast in ‘The Senior’?
In addition to Chiklis in the main role, the film stars Mary Stuart Masterson, Brandon Flynn, James Badge Dale, and Rob Corddry.
Is Justin Baldoni Directing ‘The Senior’?
While Baldoni and Wayfarer studios serve as producers, the film is directed by Rod Lurie (The Contender) with a script by Robert Eisele (The Great Debaters).
