Why It Ends With Us sequel might not be happening

The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestseller It Ends With Us grossed $242 million in three weeks of release, becoming a box office hit. Usually, in such cases, producers start planning a sequel, but this time it may not happen.

The Variety magazine analyzed the reasons for this. According to its journalists, the drama starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, which was made for just $25 million, has already become very profitable, and has attracted a mostly female audience. In addition, there is a literary basis on which to write the next script - the sequel novel.

That is, the next movie has all the ingredients for success. However, the project is jeopardized by the obvious enmity between the main actors, Lively and Baldoni. It is becoming increasingly difficult to hide. The publication's sources even claim that it is difficult for the producers to imagine a situation in which the two could work together again.

The movie has been riddled with drama for a long time. It all started with rumors of animosity between Baldoni and the rest of the cast after he was not photographed with them at the premiere in New York on August 6. Baldoni also did not present the film with Lively and the author of the novel, Colleen Hoover. Internet detectives also found that none of his co-stars followed Baldoni on Instagram, except for Hasan Minhaj. There was speculation that Lively and Baldoni were in conflict over the final version of the movie. According to some reports, the version with the actress's vision was eventually released.

It is also known that Lively admitted during an interview on the red carpet that her husband Ryan Reynolds wrote a key scene in the final version of the film. Sources say this came as news to Baldoni, who thought it was an improvised scene. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) did not respond to a request for comment on whether Reynolds' involvement affects the film's copyright. Although the credits do not always list all the authors, it is rare for a director to be unaware of this.

The alleged involvement of Reynolds raises a second issue for the WGA. Production on the film began on May 5, 2023, three days after the WGA strike began last summer. Reynolds, who was credited as a screenwriter on Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, is a member of the WGA and would have been barred from participating in the script between May 2 and September 27, 2023. Screenwriters picketed the set in New Jersey and production was suspended in late June 2023 until the start of the SAG-AFTRA actors' guild strike on July 14.

Neither Baldoni nor Lively has commented on the rumors publicly, but multiple sources confirm to Variety that the animosity between them is very real and the relationship may be beyond repair. However, none of these sources were able to articulate any legal wrongdoing on either side.

The disagreement is exacerbated by the fact that Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios owns the cinematic rights to both of Colleen Hoover's novels. The author chose this company after rejecting several offers.

Analysts suggest that Lively and Baldoni may have to follow the example of their Sex and the City 2 co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall and put aside personal differences in favor of business if they want to realize their completed vision. Baldoni suggested that he would not direct the sequel, leaving only his production duties behind. He even suggested that Lively could direct the filming.

It Ends Wth Us has already become the highest-grossing film in Baldoni's career, surpassing his directorial debut Five Feet Apart, which grossed $92.5 million. But instead of basking in the glow of box office glory, the film's authors are trying to minimize their losses. Thus, Lively came under a barrage of criticism for being too cheerful in promoting a movie about domestic violence. And Baldoni was forced to hire a crisis communications firm. Nevertheless, It Ends With Us is currently one of the top ten highest-grossing films of the year. And the audience is obviously waiting for the continuation of the tense story.

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