‘It Ends With Us’ Screenwriter Hopes Film “Destigmatizes” Domestic Violence

Christy Hall, the first hire for the film adaptation of “It Ends With Us,” knew she had quite a journey ahead. Director Justin Baldoni and author Colleen Hoover, whose 2016 bestseller sparked this movie, invited Hall to pen the screenplay. Eager, she dove deep into the book, absorbing its every detail and falling in love with the story.

Hall passionately describes her process with The Hollywood Reporter, “I like to fall in love with every word, moment, and line. That’s my marinating piece.”

Next, she began transforming the beloved book into a screenplay. Hall was determined to keep the core story intact while being strategic about what to include or exclude. Her mission was also to make Hoover proud.

“It Ends With Us” follows Lily (played by Blake Lively), who escapes a troubled childhood only to face new challenges when she falls for neurosurgeon Ryle (Baldoni). As Ryle’s darker sides emerge, reminiscent of her parents’ abusive relationship, complications arise when her past love, Atlas (Brandon Sklenar), reenters her life. Lily’s journey revolves around finding strength to move forward.

Now, with the film finally in theaters, Hall hopes it “destigmatizes” domestic violence and sparks crucial conversations. “Art’s job is to ignite conversations, even uncomfortable ones,” she says. “I believe this book has saved lives. I hope the movie continues Colleen Hoover’s legacy.”

Hall candidly shares more with THR about the pressure to do the book justice for Hoover, fans, and everyone involved. She recounts how she was chosen for this project after Baldoni read her previous works and felt she was the right fit. Despite not having read the book initially, Hall read it and fell in love, admiring Hoover’s inspiration from real-life events.

A pivotal Zoom meeting with Hoover led to mutual trust and Hall being chosen to adapt the novel. She recalled, “I outlined what could be preserved, explored, or cut. I always speak honestly in meetings. If it doesn’t feel like a good fit, then no harm, no foul. But it thrilled me when, after a two-hour Zoom, she told Wayfarer, ‘She’s our girl.'”

Expecting initially a small indie movie, Hall’s journey took unexpected turns when Sony got involved, and with Blake Lively’s casting, the project grew significantly.

Feeling the immense pressure, not just from fans but from everyone involved, Hall emphasizes the collective dedication to doing the book justice. “Hundreds of people collaborated for this movie, all there for the right reasons. There was a lot of expectation, and I felt internal pressure too. Colleen chose me, and I was determined not to let her down.”

Hall elaborates on the adaptation process, involving reading and rereading the book to immerse herself completely, then structuring the screenplay within a three-act framework. “You need to be extremely strategic and systematic,” she notes, especially with the novel’s dual timelines.

Highlighting the sensitivity required for depicting domestic violence, Hall mentions Wayfair’s partnership with NO MORE to ensure accuracy and thoughtfulness in storytelling. She respects Hoover’s personal experiences that inspired the story and valued the input from both the author and the organization.

While Hall doesn’t write with specific actors in mind, she feels the casting was perfect. Praising Blake Lively’s performance and Jenny Slate as Allysa, she remarks, “They delivered characters that started with Colleen. I’m very proud of them.”

Despite being unable to be on set due to a writers’ strike, Hall remained deeply involved as a producer and felt immense pride in the project. She balanced her commitment to the Writers Guild of America with her dedication to the film.

As the first hire and integral part of the journey, Hall hopes the film destigmatizes domestic violence and sparks meaningful conversations. She wishes it encourages victims to seek help and abusers to reflect on their actions. “Art should highlight society’s darker corners,” she insists.

“It Ends With Us” is currently playing in theaters.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter