The press tour for It Ends With Us has stirred up quite the buzz, but not just for the usual reasons. While fans eagerly anticipate the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, recent events have fueled rumors of tension between the movie’s key players—particularly between director Justin Baldoni and lead actress Blake Lively.
Justin Baldoni’s High Praise for Blake Lively
In interviews, Justin Baldoni has been nothing but complimentary toward Blake Lively, who not only stars as Lily Bloom but also serves as a producer on the film. Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK, Baldoni lauded Lively’s dedication and creative input on set, noting how she took charge of several aspects of the production. “Blake had amazing ideas [on set], and was very hands-on with the choreography of it. Honestly, there were many instances on set where I let the women figure it out, and I took a step back, and jumped in more as an actor,” he said. He also expressed his confidence in her ability to embody the character, stating, “We had a three-hour meeting, and by the end of it, I knew she was Lily.”
During an appearance on the Today show, Baldoni further emphasized Lively’s multifaceted talents, saying, “I think she’s best known as an actress, and, of course, she’s a fashion icon, but she is so much more than that. She is a dynamic creative. She had her hands in every part of this production, and everything she touched made better.”
But Where Are the Red Carpet Photos?
Despite these glowing remarks, fans have noticed that Baldoni and Lively have not been photographed together on the red carpet during the press tour. At the New York premiere, Baldoni was seen with his wife, Emily, while Lively posed with co-star Brandon Sklenar, actor Hugh Jackman, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. This absence of joint appearances has led to speculation about a potential rift.
Adding to the intrigue, Lively has been doing most of her press alongside Brandon Sklenar, further fueling rumors of behind-the-scenes discord.
Ryan Reynolds’ Involvement Raises Eyebrows
Compounding the speculation is the revelation that Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, contributed to writing an “iconic” scene in the movie. While Lively’s producer role might justify such involvement, fans have questioned whether Baldoni, who is both the director and one of the producers, might feel overshadowed. In an interview with E! News, Lively shared, “The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it… We help each other. He works on everything I do. I work on everything he does.”
This has led some to wonder if Reynolds’ influence has inadvertently created tension, particularly given that he seems to be more involved in the movie’s PR than Baldoni.
Social Media Snubs and Post-Production Drama
Another point of speculation revolves around social media. Observant fans have noted that neither Lively, Colleen Hoover (the book’s author), nor other key cast members like Jenny Slate and Brandon Sklenar follow Baldoni on Instagram, though he follows them. This apparent social media snub has only added fuel to the fire.
Furthermore, reports from The Hollywood Reporter suggest that there was a “fracture among the filmmakers” during the post-production process, with two different cuts of the movie emerging. This could point to creative differences, further complicating the narrative.
A PR Stunt or Genuine Tension?
Some speculate that all this drama might be a clever PR stunt, especially given Ryan Reynolds’ involvement in both It Ends With Us and the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie. Could this be an attempt to create a “Barbenheimer” style buzz around the two films? TikTokers like Arianna Lillie have voiced suspicions that Reynolds might be overshadowing Baldoni’s role in the film, despite Baldoni being the driving force behind its adaptation from the start.
What’s Really Going On?
Whether these rumors have any truth to them or are simply the product of fan speculation and PR tactics remains to be seen. For now, it’s all just conjecture, and only time will tell if there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Whatever the case, the buzz surrounding It Ends With Us—both on and off the screen—shows no signs of slowing down.