The feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni surrounding the film “It Ends With Us” has stirred up controversy and raised doubts about the possibility of a sequel. Despite the success of the original movie and the popularity of the book sequel, “It Starts With Us,” the conflict between the two stars has cast a shadow over the franchise.
Justin Baldoni, who co-founded Wayfarer Studios and produced “It Ends With Us,” holds the rights to the sequel. This creates a complicated situation, as it would require Lively and Baldoni to work together in some capacity, even if Baldoni did not direct the film and was replaced by another actor. Sources have indicated that Sony Pictures, the studio behind the first film, is still planning to release the sequel despite the ongoing feud between the stars.
The tension between Lively and Baldoni became apparent after the release of “It Ends With Us,” with social media users criticizing Lively for her promotional activities and accusing Baldoni of creating a difficult atmosphere on set. The situation worsened during the 2023 writers and actors strike when filming was halted, leading to further delays in production. Lively reportedly expressed reluctance to continue working on the project, indicating a strained relationship between the two stars.
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, the film received generally positive reviews from audiences and performed well at the box office. While some viewers expressed discomfort with Lively’s promotional activities, the film’s success suggests that fans are still interested in the story and characters. Sony Pictures has expressed support for Lively, emphasizing her role in the success of the first film and her importance to future projects.
In a statement, Sony Pictures Entertainment chair-CEO Tony Vinciquerra praised Lively and the other women involved in the production of “It Ends With Us,” but did not mention Baldoni. This suggests that the studio may be leaning towards continuing their collaboration with Lively on future projects, potentially sidelining Baldoni in the process.
The future of the franchise remains uncertain, with questions lingering about whether a sequel will be made and if Lively and Baldoni will be able to reconcile their differences to work together again. Despite the success of “It Ends With Us” and the popularity of the book sequel, the feud between the two stars threatens to derail the franchise and leave fans wondering about the fate of Lily and Ryle.
In conclusion, the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni feud surrounding “It Ends With Us” has created a challenging situation for the potential sequel, “It Starts With Us.” While Sony Pictures is still planning to release the film, the ongoing conflict between the two stars raises doubts about the future of the franchise. Fans will have to wait and see whether Lively and Baldoni can set aside their differences and come together to bring the sequel to life.
