Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively star in the highly anticipated screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel It Ends With Us. While the film was released on Friday, August 9, it was scheduled to premiere in Manhattan on Monday, August 5. Baldoni and Lively were seen avoiding each other during the premiere. A source claimed that the former actor created an “extremely difficult” atmosphere for everyone on the film’s set.
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Feud between Balsoni and Lively
According to an industry insider, the 40-year-old actor made Lively feel ‘uncomfortable’ for her postpartum body. The Gossip Girl star joined the set of the highly-anticipated film shortly after giving birth to her fourth child with Ryan Reynolds. The industry insider said, “It’s not just Blake, none of the cast enjoyed working with Justin… they definitely didn’t talk to him at the premiere,” as reported by Page Six.
However, sources close to Baldoni said he would never do anything that would make her or any of the cast feel unsupported. Lively also faced criticism early in filming for her character Lily Bloom’s drab wardrobe. This led to Lively delving into her closet and borrowing some clothes from her husband Ryan and best friend Gigi Hadid for the role.
The two actors did not interact with each other the entire night of the premiere and were seated in separate theaters with their respective guests. The two have not yet appeared together to promote the film. Lively was seen on the Today Show and The Morning Show with co-stars Jenny Slate and Brandon Skellner, respectively.
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Baldoni probably won’t return for the sequel
Despite being the director of the film and having full rights to the sequel, It Starts With Us, Baldoni may not return to the sequel because things were bad on set. Baldoni, who played Rylee Kincaid in the film, bought the rights to the film in 2019 after his book agent suggested the film to him. “It was sexy, and it was romantic and mysterious,” he said. “By the end, I was shedding real nosebleed tears,” as reported by Variety.
The film has yet to be picked up for a sequel, however, and Baldoni has hinted that he will not return for another round. On Monday night’s premiere, Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight, “I think there are better people for it… I think Blake Lively is ready to direct, that’s what I think.” Speaking to People, he added, “She’s a creative force, she’s an executive producer on the film, and she’s so brilliant.
“And I believe her performance will help many women feel like they are seen and will portray this unique experience in a way I haven’t seen in any other film.”
The actors worked with the stunt and intimacy director while shooting the domestic violence scenes in the film, which involved both Lively and Baldoni. He said, “What was important to me was that the abuse comes from Ryle’s insecurity – from a deep feeling that he wasn’t enough. Showing that doesn’t create an archetypal villain in the movie. He’s not a mustache-twirling bad guy; he’s a man with deep pain and deep trauma who makes terrible decisions that are never acceptable or forgivable under any circumstances.”
