It Ends with Us controversy explained: Blake Lively’s cast drama
Sony Pictures ReleasingIt Ends with Us has only just been released, but rumors surrounding behind-the-scenes cast drama with Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Justin Baldoni are catching fire – and it’s spreading to social media.
One of the biggest new movie releases for the summer is It Ends with Us, the romantic tragedy based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel that went viral on TikTok in 2021.
There’s a lot of tension on screen, but it seems there is even more behind closed doors. After the film was first announced, fans were quick to slam the aging up of its cast, but new rumors have surfaced surrounding director and star Justin Baldoni.
The cast reportedly unfollowed Baldoni on Instagram when the film was released, alongside avoiding answering questions about working with him while on the press tour. Now, Lively is allegedly worried “her career is over” following the backlash.
Initial It Ends with Us cast drama rumors
At the time of writing, all speculation about the It Ends with Us cast drama has come from online rumors. None of the cast or creative team have confirmed or spoken about any tension, but there are two separate threads of thought concerning both Baldoni and Lively on set.
TikTok user @clairenotdanes addresssed strange coincidences during the movie’s press tour in a viral clip.
During the video, she noted that none of the movie’s main cast members follow Baldoni on Instagram (Baldoni continues to follow them all), and there aren’t any photos of Baldoni with any of them during the It Ends with Us world premiere.
On top of this, long-time friends of Baldoni were in attendance but only posted about co-star Blake Lively on social media. Lively was instead seen with husband Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool & Wolverine co-star Hugh Jackman.
Though it was revealed she played Lady Deadpool in July, fans speculated the pair might have been in attendance as a distraction for Baldoni’s absence. Similar rumors started about why Lively chose to wear a dress most famously worn by Britney Spears in 2002.
This later led to fans on X/Twitter picking up on Jenny Slate, who plays Allyssa in the movie, avoiding answering a question about working with Baldoni when asked on the red carpet.
“I just found out about the whole It Ends with Us cast drama and omg they asked her what it was like to work with Justin and she completely ignored the question,” one fan commented.
Another Reddit fan posted, “I know the editor. Justin and Blake hate each other. Unclear to me why but the editor’s on Justin’s side.”
“There’s nothing random about this. Most movies are complete sh*t shows where everyone hates each other. But you are definitely correct that THIS amount of social media unfollowing etc is rare,” another weighed in.
Page Six reported industry sources told the outlet, “It’s not just Blake. None of the cast enjoyed working with Justin… They certainly didn’t talk to him at the premiere.”
They also alleged Baldoni made the on-set atmosphere “extremely difficult,” while also making Lively feel “uncomfortable” about her post-partum body.
A source also confirmed to People magazine that neither the cast nor author Colleen Hoover would “have anything to do with him.” However, the same source suggested cast member Brandon Sklenar thought Baldoni did a “great” job on set.
Ryan Reynolds’ alleged involvement explained
During the world premiere of It Ends with Us, Blake Lively revealed husband Ryan Reynolds wrote a pivotal scene in the script. This led to rumors of Lively and Reynolds’ ‘steamrolling’ production, with the scriptwriter weighing in on the changes.
Lively confirmed to E! News on the red carpet that Reynolds was involved in writing the script, adding, “The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it. Nobody knows that but you know. We help each other. He works on everything I do; I work on everything he does. So his wins, his celebrations are mine and mine are his.”
While nothing concrete has been confirmed, fans believe there may be underlying tension because of Reynolds’ involvement.
“Saw another video that alleged Blake and Ryan funded a big chunk of the movie in the hopes of pushing Blake for an Oscar nod,” one fan posted on the same Reddit thread.
“Blake and Ryan basically took over and assumed creative control, the movie is allegedly directed and written by them but Justin has the credit and is the scapegoat in case the movie bombs. Allegedly!”
Meanwhile, screenwriter Christy Hall had a different approach to the script changes. She told People Magazine: “There were a couple of little things that I thought had been improvised. Like when he says, ‘Pretty please with a cherry on top,’ and she talks about the maraschino cherries.
“When I saw a cut I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cute. That must have been a cute improvised thing.’ So if I’m being told that Ryan wrote that, then great, how wonderful.
“There were a few little flourishes that I did not write, but I assumed that they had been improvised on set. But, again, like I said, the moments that I felt like needed to be honored are there. So I recognize the scene and I’m proud of the scene. And if those flourishes came from Ryan, I think that’s wonderful.”
One fan responded, “Blake saying Ryan wrote that rooftop scene is so f**king shady to the *actual screenwriter*.”
“You also can’t just WRITE A SCENE?!?! That’s not how it works? They’re so strict about credits, especially for writing. To me, this speaks to them railroading everybody,” added another.
Entertainment Tonight confirmed that Reynolds’ scene in the movie “came as news” to Baldoni, who only found out about it after the red carpet interview seen above.
In addition to the added scene drama, Reynolds’ Instagram post saw him taking over the It Ends with Us press junket, grilling co-star Brandon Sklenar about his onscreen connection with Lively.
Justin Baldoni hired Johnny Depp PR manager amid alleged drama
According to The Hollywood Reporter, It Ends with Us director Justin Baldoni hired PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan as rumors swirl about drama with Blake Lively.
Nathan is possibly best known for representing Johnny Depp during his trial against Amber Heard, previously working under Hiltzik Strategies. She launched The Agency Group earlier this summer, partnering with Baldoni under the brand.
Unlike previous rumors, The Hollywood Reporter alleged this hiring is linked to a slightly different reason.
As per industry sources, there was supposedly a different cut of It Ends with Us commissioned by Lively from Shane Reid, who you might recognize as an editor on Deadpool & Wolverine. It’s unknown whether this cut was used – if any of it – but it was allegedly different to Baldoni’s version.
The final edit is credited to Oona Flaherty and Robb Sullivan.
The Hollywood Reporter also states Baldoni “took a step back at times on set to let the women take charge, given that the film is told from a woman’s perspective and focuses on the sensitive issue of domestic violence.”
During filming, Baldoni claimed to be “mesmerized” with Lively, something he told People Magazine in August.
“She’s an executive producer on the film, and she is so brilliant,” he added. “And I believe that her performance is going to help so many women feel seen and showcase this unique experience in a way that I don’t believe I’ve seen in another film.”
Blake Lively “fears career is over” following backlash
In the weeks that followed initial cast drama rumors, reports emerged that Lively fears “her career is over” after backlash extended past what happened on set.
The Daily Mirror has suggested Lively has had to retreat from the public eye to “reassess her future” after both cast drama allegations and backlash from previous interviews.
When allegations between Lively and Baldoni first surfaced, an old interview with Norwegian reporter Kjersti Flaa for the 2016 movie Café Society resurfaced, with Flaa claiming the experience made her want to “quit her job.”
“Sitting down with Blake Lively and her co-star Parker Posey for Café Society (2016) is the most uncomfortable interview situation I have ever experienced,” Flaa explained.
“Is it not ok to congratulate someone on their pregnancy or to ask another woman about costumes she is wearing in a film?”
On top of this, Lively’s marketing of It Ends with Us has also drawn criticism, slammed by fans as “tone-deaf” and “garbage.”
In a TikTok clip titled ‘The downfall of Blake Lively’, Bee Better Company also pulled the star up on using the movie to promote her alcohol brand, Betty Booze.
“They decided to sponsor the premiere with specialized drinks like ‘Ryle You Wait,’ which is the name of the man who abused his wife in the film,” they explained.
“It’s an absolute garbage line. It’s getting horrible reviews. It has a 50% return rate. And they’re pretending the product is sold out online, but they’re not, because they’re still stocked at Target.”
“Blake Lively really said ‘grab your friends and your florals’ to see a movie about domestic abuse. Tone deaf asf,” another fan commented on X/Twitter.
Lively has made no public comment on the cast drama allegations or criticism of the movie’s marketing.
A sequel has likely been nixed
Talks of a sequel were allegedly in the mix, with drama casting doubt on whether the project could ever go ahead.
According to Variety, Baldoni holds the cinematic rights to the movie and Hoover’s sequel novel, It Starts with Us. The latter focuses on the blossoming relationship between Lily (Lively) and childhood sweetheart Atlas (Sklenar).
The box office speaks for itself, with It Ends with Us becoming one of the most profitable movies of 2024. Yet a source told the outlet “This is uncharted territory, and nobody has any idea of what a sequel could look like.
“There’s probably no world where these two will work together again.”
In our own review, we described It Ends with Us as “just frustratingly average – something we’ve had plenty of in 2024. Peppered with solidly portrayed, surface-level trauma, the movie acts more as a showreel for how cool Blake Lively is, and how much we want to be her regardless of what life throws at us.”
It Ends with Us is in theaters now. Check out the best movies of 2024 alongside new movies streaming this month. You can also take a look at the best fall episodes of Gilmore Girls to actually feel like you’re in Maine, the movie’s location.