It Ends with Us Cast Drama Explained: What Is Going on with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni?

It ends with us is already making noise at the box office — but lately, fans have been curious about what’s going on with the cast.

In the midst of the film’s promotional tour, rumors surfaced of a rift between the lead stars, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who play Lily Bloom and Ryle. Baldoni was also the director of the project, while Lively was the producer. Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, secured the rights to the book in 2019, and Lively’s role in the film was announced in January 2023.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni at the premiere of It Ends With Us.

Gotham/WireImage (2)

Namely, Baldoni was largely absent from group promotional appearances, including the premiere in New York, where he did not pose with his colleagues and did not introduce the film before the screening. Additionally, Lively, Brandon Sklenar and author Colleen Hoover do not appear to follow Baldoni on social media.

There were also reports of creative conflicts behind the scenes, which allegedly led to two different versions of the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Here’s everything you need to know about the cast’s drama and what everyone had to say about working together.

7 It ends with us Filming Locations You Can Visit (And No, They’re Not in Boston)

Why are there rumors of a rift between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni?

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in the movie It Ends With Us.

Nicole Rivelli

Rumors of a rift between Lively and Baldoni first surfaced when the cast embarked on an official press tour for the film. In fact, while promoting the film, Baldoni was largely absent from group appearances, including Book Bonanza and a surprise screening in June with Lively, Sklenar, Hoover and Isabela Ferrer, the latter of whom plays young Lily. Around the same time, Baldoni revealed that he was on the mend after being hospitalized for a week with an infection.

Speculation grew as the film premiered in New York on August 6. While Lively appeared to be posing alongside all of her co-stars, including Sklenar and Jenny Slate, Baldoni walked the red carpet with his wife, Emily, and his family. He also did not introduce the film before the screening with Lively and Hoover, despite being the director of the project.

Additionally, fans noticed that none of the main actors or the author follow Baldoni on social media, while Lively follows Sklenar, Hoover, and Slate.

“All is not as it seems,” a source told PEOPLE of the rift. “There is much more to this story. The main actors and Colleen Hoover will have nothing to do with him.”

Amid the reported rift, Baldoni has hired crisis PR manager Melissa Nathan from The Agency Group, a source familiar with the matter told PEOPLE.

What’s up It ends with us actors said about working together?

Blake Lively and Jenny Slate at the premiere of It Ends With Us.

John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

During the film’s press tour, Baldoni spoke highly of his collaborators. Before the release, he praised Sklenar’s performance in an Instagram Stories post, and during an interview with PEOPLE, he said that Lively “bewitched” him during the shoot.

In addition to acting, he noted that Lively was “involved in every area of ​​the production” and was a “creative force” during filming. “She’s the executive producer of the movie and she’s so brilliant,” he continued. “And I believe that her performance will help so many women feel seen and portray this unique experience in a way that I don’t believe I’ve seen in any other film.”

In an interview with ELLE In the UK, Baldoni called Lively an “electron” for the collaboration and also explained how “friction” on set can benefit the final product. “There’s all these things that happen every day on set, there’s always friction that happens when you’re making a movie like this,” he said. “Then at the end of the day, that friction, I believe, creates beautiful art. Everything in life needs friction to grow.”

During the interview for PEOPLE at 10Sklenar opened up about working with Baldoni, noting that he did a “great” job balancing his duties as the film’s lead actor as well as director and producer. “The whole team he put together was so amazing,” he added. “Everyone in this film is simply at the top of their game in every segment. It was a really pleasant environment to work in.”

However, eyebrows were raised when Slate, who plays Baldoni’s sister Allysa, was asked about working with him during the film’s premiere and seemingly sidestepped the question. “What an intense job to do so many things,” she said Deadlineadding to her career, she would rather have one job when doing projects.

Blake Lively thanks kids, Taylor Swift, Bradley Cooper, Britney Spears and more in It ends with us Merits

What happened behind the scenes It ends with us production?

Justin Baldoni on the set of It Ends With Us.

Jojo Wilden

Ahead of the release, there were also various reports of creative conflicts behind the scenes. While Baldoni directed and produced the project, Lively, who also served as a producer, praised her husband Ryan Reynolds for his creative input at the premiere, saying he wrote the pivotal rooftop scene between Lily and Ryle.

“The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it. Nobody knows that but you now,” Lively said. Hey! News on the red carpet. “We help each other,” she added. “He works on everything I do. I work on everything he does. So his wins, his celebrations are mine and mine are his. I mean, he’s everywhere in this movie.”

Speaking to PEOPLE, the film’s screenwriter, Christy Hall, noted that a certain scene was “probably the hardest to tackle” because it’s “perfect in the novel.” She also said she didn’t know Reynolds had contributed dialogue used in the final version of the sequence, but noted a few new additions.

“There were a few little things that I thought were improvised. Like when he says, ‘Some with a cherry on top, please,’ and she talks about maraschino cherries. When I saw the cut, I was like, ‘Oh, that must have been a sweet impromptu thing.’ So if they tell me that Ryan wrote it, then great, how wonderful,” she said.

“There were a few little things that I didn’t write, but I assumed were improvised on set,” she continued. “But, again, like I said, the moments that I felt should be respected are there. So I recognize the scene and I’m proud of it, and if that flourish came from Ryan, I think that’s wonderful.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter“there was a rift among the filmmakers” during the post-production process as two “different parts of the film” emerged. A source tells PEOPLE that it’s typical to have many cuts of a film during post-production, and everyone agreed on the final cut.

Ryan Reynolds supports Blake Lively in It ends with us PM, she says it’s ‘best’ to have him there (Exclusive)

What is the other controversy about It ends with us adaptation?

Colleen Hoover at the premiere of It Ends With Us.

John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

Drama rumors aside, the film also received backlash as some fans criticized its portrayal of intimate partner violence. In both the book and the film adaptation (warning: spoilers ahead), the story revolves around Lily Bloom as she embarks on a romance with Ryle. However, over time he becomes emotionally, sexually and physically abusive to Lily. Although they eventually split up, she allows him to continue to co-parent their daughter.

This has been a point of contention among readers, as some question Lily’s choice to keep Ryle, while others praise the realistic nature of the relationship. Hoover has been open about how observing her parents’ relationship influenced the story.

“One of my earliest memories was him shooting at the TV,” she said Today in 2023. “Until that moment, we grew up in a violent household. There were no resources for women to leave those situations,” she continued, adding that her mother divorced her father when she was 2 years old. “She could have gotten out of that relationship. And from then on, I just remember growing up with a mother who was so strong and independent.”

Hoover recalled that she “kept asking her mother how she managed to leave her father and ended up writing a book inspired by her mother’s courage.”

What’s up It ends with us what did you say about the story?

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively in the movie It Ends With Us.

Nicole Rivelli

Both Lively and Baldoni emphasized the importance of the film’s subject matter and how they hope it will help people who are victims of domestic violence.

“I think what’s really beautiful about this movie is that it’s told with empathy, and that speaks to how Colleen wrote this book, because she sets such a clear emotional roadmap for Lily,” Lively told PEOPLE of the source material. . “And Lily is not only multifaceted and dynamic and has ups and downs and light and dark, but also all the characters that surround her. They are not just monochrome.”

“This will keep your empathy,” she continued of the film. “Hindsight is 20/20, right? So it’s very easy to look back and see red flags. But I think it’s more about giving yourself the grace to not see things, or to see them and want to believe the best in a person, because it’s a beautiful trait to want to believe the best in yourself, in people, but it can also get you into really painful , traumatic situations, and sometimes you don’t even realize it. I think it’s about having empathy for yourself, and then knowing your strength and your worth. Let’s hope that watching a movie like this and then a story like this will remind people that there is a way out. There can always be a way out.”

A source told PEOPLE that Baldoni was also passionate about spreading the story. “In all the media he published, he emphasized the importance of highlighting this problem and breaking the cycle of violence,” the source said. “Although this is Justin’s biggest directorial and acting role to date, this film was never in the interest of self-promotion. It has and will continue to pursue a message with the goal of touching real lives and inspiring people to speak out against domestic violence. Ultimately, it’s about survivors and hope.”

How to watch It ends with us as a victim of domestic violence

Will the cast return for It ends with us sequel?

Blake Lively in It Ends With Us.

Nicole Rivelli/SONY IMAGES

Seeing that It ends with us has a companion book, It starts with usfans are curious if there will be a sequel — and who from the original cast will appear. Although the book is mostly focused on Lily and Atlas, Ryle is still the central character.

Although Baldoni did not confirm whether he would return as one of the film’s stars, he did weigh in on whether he would return as director. “You’ll have to ask me in a while. After this we go on vacation,” Baldoni said humorously Party tonight.

“I think there are better people for that,” he added. “I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s what I think.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education