Justin Baldoni Praises ‘It Ends With Us’ Costar Blake Lively: “She Was Involved in Every Aspect of the Film”

Justin Baldoni Praises ‘It Ends With Us’ Costar Blake Lively: “She Was Involved in Every Aspect of the Film”

“She’s been a creative powerhouse and a wonderful collaborator,” Baldoni says.

Adapting Colleen Hoover’s romantic drama It Ends With Us for the big screen was no easy task. The story, inspired by Hoover’s parents’ marriage, delves deeply into the sensitive subject of domestic abuse. Justin Baldoni not only directed the film adaptation but was also persuaded by the author to play the role of the abusive husband at the heart of the story.

Reflecting on the experience, Baldoni shared in a July interview with Entertainment Weekly that his collaboration with Blake Lively, who plays the lead role, was essential to bringing the film to life, particularly during its darkest moments.

“Blake was involved in every aspect of the film once she joined the project,” Baldoni said. “From scenes and dialogue to the final touches, she has been a creative powerhouse and an amazing collaborator.”

It Ends With Us, the first of Hoover’s books to be adapted into a film, follows the story of Lily (played by Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood with an abusive father to start fresh in Boston. She pursues her dream of opening a flower shop and finds love with a charming neurosurgeon, Ryle (played by Baldoni). However, as their relationship progresses, Lily realizes that Ryle’s abusive behavior mirrors the cycle of violence she’s been trying to escape. The situation becomes even more complicated when her first love, Atlas (played by Brandon Sklenar), reenters her life, challenging everything she thought she knew.

Baldoni emphasized that keeping the focus on Lily’s journey was his guiding principle in adapting the story. “The pressure was tremendous,” he admitted. “I put a lot of pressure on myself, not just as a director but also as an actor working alongside Blake. I wanted to make sure I delivered a performance that would support her in giving the best possible portrayal.”

Filming the scenes of abuse was particularly challenging for Baldoni, who had to juggle his role as Ryle with his responsibilities as the director. “Blake was an incredible partner during those scenes,” he said. “It was extremely difficult, but I made sure to surround myself with talented and trusted creatives. Whether it was the intimacy coordinator, the stunt coordinator, or Blake herself, we’d review the footage together. Blake would tell me, ‘We got it,’ if she felt the take was right, and I truly trusted her judgment. She has a great eye, and that trust was crucial in making these scenes work.”

Justin Baldoni Praises ‘It Ends With Us’ Costar Blake Lively: “She Was Involved in Every Aspect of the Film”

It Ends With Us is set to open in theaters on August 9.

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