The future of a sequel to It Ends With Us is in doubt due to an alleged feud between the film’s stars, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel has become a box office hit, grossing $242 million globally in just three weeks, with projections suggesting it could reach $300 million. Despite the success, reports of tension between Lively and Baldoni have raised questions about the possibility of a follow-up film.
Sources familiar with the situation told Variety that the relationship between Lively and Baldoni has deteriorated, making it unlikely that they will work together again. The friction reportedly surfaced during the production of the film, with speculation that Lively and Baldoni disagreed over the final cut, leading to Lively’s preferred version being released. The situation was further complicated when Lively revealed in an interview that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, wrote a key scene in the movie, which Baldoni reportedly believed was ad-libbed.
Baldoni, whose Wayfarer Studios holds the rights to both It Ends With Us and its sequel It Starts With Us, has suggested that he may not direct the potential follow-up. "I think there are better people for that. I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct," Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight. Despite the uncertainty, the film’s strong box office performance has kept hopes alive for a sequel, though it may require Lively and Baldoni to reconcile their differences.
Industry insiders note that while Sony holds the option to distribute a sequel, Wayfarer Studios has the final say on whether it moves forward. Given the success of the first film, there is significant interest in continuing the story, but the alleged feud poses a significant obstacle.
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