It Ends with UsJustin Baldoni's Clash Goes Past Blake Lively: 'Cast Will Have Nothing to Do with Him' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

The issues brewing behind the scenes ofIt Ends with Ussurpassalleged creative differencesbetween the film’s directorJustin Baldoniand starBlake Lively, a source tells PEOPLE.

“All is not what it seems,” a set source tells PEOPLE. “There is much more to this story. The principal cast and [author] Colleen Hoover will have nothing to do with him.”

Reps for Lively, 36, and Baldoni, 40, did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

It Ends With Usopened to a strong $50 million at the domestic box officeover the weekend, with Lively starring as Lily Bloom, a florist who falls in love with a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni), and a toxic relationship forms. The cast also includes Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, Hasan Minhaj, Isabela Ferrer, Alex Neustaedter, and more.

Rumors of discord behind the scenes grew prior to the film’s release as Baldoni did most of his press solo, and did not pose for pictures alongside the cast atthe film’s New York premiere. Fans were also quick to spot that Lively, Hoover and Slate do not follow Baldoni back on Instagram.

Reps for Slate, Sklenar, Minhaj and Ferrer, Neustaedter and Hoover did not respond to requests for comment.

Justin Baldoni, director/actor of ‘It Ends With Us’.

But there has not been a discussion yet of a second movie, says a Hollywood source.

Baldoni toldVarietyhis production company Wayfarer Studios has the option on adaptingIt Starts with Usbut “I haven’t even begun to think that far ahead. I’m trying to stay in the present as much as I can.”

Justin Baldoni, director/star of ‘It Ends With Us’.Greg Doherty/Getty

Reports of Baldoni’s alleged behavior surfaced Aug. 9, when theDaily Mailpublished a report alleging Baldoni was “chauvinistic” and “borderline abusive” on the set ofIt Ends with Us.The same day, Page Six reported Baldoni created an “extremely difficult” atmosphere behind the scenes for the entire cast.

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At the premiere in New York City on Aug. 6, Baldoni suggested toEntertainment Tonightthat Lively should helm a sequel. “I think that there are better people for that one,” he said. “I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct. That’s what I think.”

Lively, who is also a producer onIt Ends with Us, has spoken of putting her touches on the film’smusic,costumes,dialogueand more.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are costars in ‘It Ends With Us’.Taylor Hill/Getty; Steve Granitz/WireImage

She toldBBCat the London premiere, from which Baldoni was absent, “I really feel like we delivered a story that’s emotional and it’s fun, but also funny, painful, scary, tragic and it’s inspiring and that’s what life is, it’s every single color.”

It Ends with Usis now in theaters.

source: people.com