Film producer and actor Justin Baldoni has revealed how he has no plans to return for the sequel to the hit film It Ends With Us.
Out now, the film stars Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, a young woman who overcomes her own tragic childhood to find a new life and love with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid – also played by director Justin Baldoni.
Adapted from the 2016 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, the story first follows the couple as their relationship is threatened when their first love – Brandon Sklenar’s Atlas Corrigan – re-enters their lives.
However, as rumors of on-set drama surrounding the director and cast continue to circulate, the Jane the Virgin star has revealed how she plans to proceed with the sequel.
Social media users have been speculating about the tension felt between the director and the cast after noticing that they were not seen in any photos with their co-stars at the film’s premiere.
Releasing a statement, Justin has suggested that star Blake Lively could step into the director’s chair when it comes time to adapt the next book in the series.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the film’s premiere, Justin said: ‘It’s not my night – it’s a night for all the women who made this film. This is the night for Blake, this is the night for Colleen. I’m just grateful that we’re here, five years in the making.
And, when asked if he could direct the sequel, he said: ‘I think there’s someone better for that guy.
‘I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s what I think,’ he added.
As conspiracy theories continue to circulate, one avid TikTok user pointed out that almost none of the cast and crew of the film follow him on Instagram, even though he follows them all.
Meanwhile, at the premiere, actor Jenny Slate (who plays Ryle’s sister), seemed to ignore a reporter’s question when she asked what it was like to work with the director, instead describing the role as ‘intense work.’
This interaction led one X user to speculate that he had ‘completely ignored’ the question, suggesting bad blood between the director and his cast.
Regardless of the rumors of tension, Justin had nothing but good things to say about his co-star Blake, describing him to Movies.ie as ‘a creative person who makes everything he touches better’ and a ‘creative person who creates. everything he touches is better’.
“I believe she gave the performance of a lifetime, and I can’t wait for people to see how good she is in this film,” he said.
Elsewhere, writer Colleen Hooever described the actor and director as ‘genuinely nice people’ in a commentary for Variety.
Beyond its behind-the-scenes drama, the film has also courted accusations of glamourising abusive relationships, with the film being marketed as a light romance despite its dark themes.
The film’s trailer didn’t do it any favors, as many fans worried that the film didn’t do enough to highlight the fact that the film is actually about an abusive relationship.
Sex and relationship expert Annabelle Knight told Metro.co.uk: ‘This kind of marketing can be misleading and even upsetting to viewers who aren’t expecting darker themes.
‘The film should be given the seriousness it deserves, especially since it was inspired by the real-life experiences of Colleen Hoover’s mother.’
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