Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni’s ‘It Ends With Us’ Hit by Feud Rumors, Controversy

The cinematic adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel “It Ends With Us” has garnered significant attention, both for its handling of sensitive themes and for alleged behind-the-scenes issues among the cast and crew. As the film premiered on August 9, it not only rekindled debates surrounding the novel’s portrayal of domestic abuse but also sparked rumors of discord between its stars, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

“It Ends With Us” tells the story of Lily Bloom, a florist who becomes involved in a relationship with Ryle, a charming neurosurgeon. Their romance soon mirrors the cycle of violence Lily witnessed in her childhood, where her mother endured abuse from her father. As Lily reconnects with Atlas, a figure from her past, she finds herself considering an alternative path.

Written by Colleen Hoover in 2016, the novel quickly climbed the bestseller lists and cultivated a dedicated fan base. However, its popularity did not come without controversy, particularly concerning its treatment of domestic violence.

When the film’s casting was announced in 2023, some fans expressed dissatisfaction with the age difference between the actors and their characters. Blake Lively, at 36, was cast as Lily, who is depicted as 23 in the book, while Ryle is around 30. Hoover addressed this discrepancy in an interview with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager, acknowledging her error in the book’s characterization. “As an author, we make mistakes. There’s no 28-year-old neurosurgeons, you know? You go to school for 15 years. So, to correct what I messed up, we aged the characters up somewhat,” Hoover explained.

The journey from book to screen began in 2019 when Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, secured the rights to adapt “It Ends With Us.” The casting of Lively as Lily Bloom was announced in January 2023, stirring excitement amongst fans. Baldoni took on multiple roles, including director, producer, and portraying Ryle, opposite Lively’s Lily. The film also stars Brandon Sklenar as Atlas and Jenny Slate as Allysa, Ryle’s sister.

As the film’s promotional tour commenced, observers began to notice peculiarities in the cast’s public interactions, leading to rumors of tension between Lively and Baldoni. These speculations were fueled by Baldoni’s absence from group promotional events, attributed to his recovery from a week-long hospitalization due to an infection.

The New York premiere on August 6 further intensified rumors. While Lively was seen with her co-stars and her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni was photographed separately alongside his wife Emily and family. He did not join Lively and Hoover in introducing the film, despite being the director. In addition, social media sleuths noted that Lively, Sklenar, Slate, and Hoover did not follow Baldoni on various platforms, while Lively maintained connections with the other co-stars and the author.

An anonymous source provided a cryptic statement to People, stating, “All is not what it seems. There is much more to this story. The principal cast and Colleen Hoover will have nothing to do with him.”

Despite these rumors, Baldoni has consistently praised his co-stars. During the press tour, he admired Sklenar’s performance and spoke highly of Lively’s influence, particularly her dual role as executive producer. “She’s an executive producer on the film, and she is so brilliant. Her performance is going to help so many women feel seen and showcase this experience uniquely,” Baldoni noted in an interview with People. He further elaborated on the inherent friction in filmmaking in an interview with ELLE U.K., suggesting that such tension can lead to beautiful art.

Sklenar also lauded the experience, highlighting Baldoni’s effective management of multiple roles on set. “The entire crew that he assembled was incredible. Everyone in this film is at the top of their game. It was a really pleasant environment to work in,” Sklenar shared with PEOPLE in 10.

However, Slate seemed to avoid directly commenting on her experience working with Baldoni. At the film’s premiere, she remarked to Deadline, “What an intense job to have to do so many things,” and expressed a preference for focusing on one role when working on projects.

Reports of creative differences surfaced, adding to the narrative of tension. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the post-production process saw a division among the filmmakers, resulting in two distinct cuts of the movie. While having multiple cuts is not uncommon, it fueled speculation about conflicting creative visions.

Lively’s influence was further highlighted when she revealed that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, had written a pivotal scene in the film. “The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it. Nobody knows that but you now,” Lively disclosed to E! News at the premiere. “We help each other. He works on everything I do. I work on everything he does. His wins, his celebrations are mine and mine are his. He’s all over this film.”

This revelation surprised some, including screenwriter Christy Hall, who had assumed the new additions were improvised on set. “I noticed some little changes, and I thought they had been improvised. If Ryan wrote those, then great,” Hall remarked to People.

With the release of “It Ends With Us,” attention is shifting towards the possibility of adapting its sequel, “It Starts With Us,” which focuses primarily on Lily and Atlas but continues to feature Ryle. When questioned about his involvement in a potential sequel, Baldoni remained noncommittal. “You’re gonna have to ask me later. We’re taking a vacation after this,” he told Entertainment Tonight. Baldoni hinted that Lively might be primed to take on directorial duties for a sequel, saying, “I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s what I think.”

Source: PopCulture.com