It Ends With Us Drama Starts With Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

As someone who has spent years studying human behavior and communication, I find myself intrigued by this peculiar situation surrounding the promotion of “It Ends With Us”. Being a long-time fan of Blake Lively and having read the book, I’ve followed this story with great interest.

Is there a hint of backstage discord among the cast of “It Ends With Us“? Social media, particularly TikTok, seems to be pointing towards this possibility. At the New York premiere on August 6th, none of the main cast members, including Blake Lively and Colleen Hoover, appeared to interact with director Justin Baldoni, nor did they take photos together. Intriguingly, despite fan expectations during early movie promotions, Hoover does not follow Baldoni on Instagram. Similarly, the rest of the main cast also do not follow him, except for Hasan Minhaj. Although neither Hoover nor the cast have openly spoken about any issues with Baldoni, their actions at events and in interviews suggest a certain distance. For instance, during the New York premiere, Jenny Slate, who plays Baldoni’s sister in the film, chose to focus on his acting role rather than his directing duties, implying that it was an intense job. Hoover, too, has been vague when discussing Baldoni’s directing, often shifting the praise to the cast as a whole. This ambiguity has led many to speculate about potential tension behind the scenes.

As a devoted fan, I’ve heard whispers that various iterations of the movie were crafted, one of which was spearheaded by Lively, based on the edits suggested by Shane Reid, who’s worked magic with both Deadpool and Wolverine. Yet, no insiders I’ve encountered are suggesting there’s any animosity brewing between the two stars according to The Hollywood Reporter. So, I can’t help but wonder, why does the cast seem to be steering clear of him?

Theory 1: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds took over after Baldoni couldn’t handle the job

In the process of figuring out the events, it’s been speculated that Lively and Reynolds played a larger role in the project than Baldoni preferred. It is also said that they had disagreements about the approach to narrate the story creatively.

At the movie’s red-carpet debut, Lively disclosed to E! News that Reynolds played a significant role in one of the film’s most memorable scenes, which is often associated with its narrative — it’s worth noting that Lively is credited as a producer, while Reynolds isn’t. She elaborated, “The renowned rooftop scene? My husband penned it. It’s a secret, but here it is … He contributes to everything I do, and vice versa. His victories, his triumphs are my own, and mine are his.” This revelation came as a surprise to the movie’s screenwriter, Christy Hall, who was unaware of Reynold’s script involvement — she admitted that writing that scene was particularly challenging for her. Hall shared with People, “There were a few small details I thought had been ad-libbed. Like when he says, ‘Pretty please with a cherry on top,’ and she discusses maraschino cherries. When I saw a cut, I thought, ‘That’s cute, that must be an improvised touch.’ So if what I’m being told is true—that Ryan wrote it—then fantastic, what a delight.”

In a recent interview for Vogue, Lively expresses her preference for refining and reshaping an existing script over crafting something new. She finds more excitement in taking an established script, uncovering hidden gems that others may have missed, and bringing out its true value. Lively likens this process to a treasure hunt, where she serves as an archaeologist, unearthing and polishing the hidden gem. Working behind the scenes, she claims, is more challenging than performing in front of the camera. The complexities of Baldoni’s multiple roles as both lead actor and director might have caused tension on set, prompting Lively and Reynolds to intervene. This could potentially explain Slate’s reservations about juggling both acting and directing roles. It appears that Hoover is growing closer to Lively while distancing herself from Baldoni, perhaps following the tumult of production-related issues.

Theory 2: Being Ryle was too much for Baldoni

At the red carpet event, Baldoni found himself overcome with emotion as he reflected on the emotional depth the film had plunged him into. He admitted that there were numerous instances where he needed to retreat to a secluded room to weep or shake off the intense feelings and try to free himself from the character or the energy of the role, as he shared with THR before becoming tearful. It seemed that he struggled to transition when it was time for him to don his director’s hat, and so he requested some personal space from the cast.

Theory 3: It’s all fake

Some conspiracy-minded individuals speculate that the media hype surrounding the promotion tour for the movie “It Ends With Us” could be a carefully orchestrated PR tactic aimed at generating conversation about the film, falling into the category between the buzz surrounding films like “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Anyone But You“. One TikToker shared their thoughts by saying, “I’m not sure about all the theories, but I believe it’s simply promotional efforts to boost ticket sales.”

Theory 4: A difference in promotion ideas

In the novel, the central theme revolves around domestic violence portrayed by Baldoni’s character. To maintain the authenticity of the story’s message, it seems unusual that Baldoni appears friendly with Lively during promotional events. The character Ryle isn’t meant to be romanticized in any way, and it appears the team wants to emphasize this point clearly.

As a survivor of domestic violence, I found it incredibly disheartening and tone-deaf to see Blake Lively promoting her haircare brand during the promotion of a movie that deals with such a sensitive and serious topic like domestic violence. It felt as if she was trying to use the film as a platform for her personal business interests instead of focusing on its true message. The film’s subject matter is not something to be taken lightly, and it’s important that we approach it with sensitivity and respect.

Theory 5: Actually, nothing is wrong

The true intrigue might stem from everyone having to log off or sign out, as Baldoni has consistently praised Lively throughout this entire journey. On August 8, Baldoni conversed with Today, extolling her acting skills. “I’m not sure if you realize how intelligent and innovative she truly is,” he confided. “She’s generally recognized as an actress, and undeniably a fashion trendsetter, but she is far more than that,” he added. “She is a dynamic creative. She was involved in every aspect of this production, and everything she worked on improved.” He even proposed Lively for the director role in the next film, stating, “I believe there are better people for that role, I think Blake Lively is ready to direct.” Other cast members, such as Kevin McKidd, acknowledged their friendship with Baldoni on the red carpet. Ultimately, we might never uncover the truth about what occurred, if anything at all. However, don’t be shocked if Hoover’s upcoming book unfolds on a film set, where the two leads clash over creative disagreements while maintaining a polished demeanor for their fans. The plot practically writes itself!

2024-08-09 19:54