No, you’re not seeing double: Blake Lively and Isabela Ferrer just look that much alike.
It’s a fact that was only made the more noticeable when Isabela—who plays the younger version of Blake’s Lily Bloom in their new film It Ends With Us—stepped out onto the red carpet at the movie’s August 6 premiere looking much like Blake herself.
“She did style me, this is all her doing,” Isabela confessed in an exclusive interview with E! News aired Aug. 6. “I have an Oscar De La Renta dress on in classic Blake fashion. I’m wearing her shoes, these are her Louboutin shoes.”
For the occasion, Isabela—per Blake's guidance—donned a gorgeous, flowered gown that matched the floral arrangements, courtesy of UrbanStems, that decorated the carpet.
And for the 24-year-old, for whom It Ends With Us is her first big-screen acting role, Blake has been far more than just a stylist.
“She’s been an absolute angel,” Isabela added. “A mentor and a big sister to me. And a new best friend. I don’t know where I’d be without her.”
It was a casting choice that really did feel like kismet. After all, not only did the two women mesh personally, but to an outside perspective, their similarities are almost uncanny. Even down to their voices.
As Isabela joked, “People have said like, ‘Is she AI? Is this a real person?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m real, I promise.’”
But on how she and the Gossip Girl alum were able to mimic the other so closely, Isabela said it didn’t take much.
“It’s like a pure stroke of luck, we actually just are similar,” she explained. “We met twice before I started filming and we just immediately hit it off. And I could see similarities between us and we were both like, ‘Oh! This is good, we can see this.’ And it’s just such a privilege and a blessing, it’s amazing.”
And privilege is the same word the rising star would use to describe taking on her role in It Ends With Us, given the massive fanbase the original novel written by Colleen Hoover has accumulated since its 2016 release.
“I wouldn’t even call it a pressure, but more of just a real responsibility,” Isabela reflected on taking on the project. “And a respect I felt I had to really put into this project. And respect to Colleen, this is her baby, and she has gifted this to us to do.”
So ahead of the film’s August 9 release date, Isabela had one last message for the eagerly awaiting fans.
“Thank you,” she said, “I hope you enjoy it, this was made for you. I’m here because of you. And I hope they receive the love that they gave to this book from this movie.”
For more on the highly-anticipated It Ends With Us movie, keep reading.
- Reporting by Ashley Bellman
Gird your loins as pop culture's next great love triangle is about to begin. Based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2016 novel of the same name, which dominated TikTok in 2022, It Ends With Us is bringing to life the romance drama centering on a beautiful florist.
"Though coming from a complicated past, Lily Bloom has always known the life she wants," the film's synopsis read. "While living in Boston, she meets neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid and believes she may very well have found her soul mate. Soon, however, questions arise about their relationship, and to complicate matters her high school love interest, Atlas Corrigan, comes back into the picture, putting her relationship with Ryle in jeopardy."
So, which actors are portraying Lily, Ryle and Atlas?
Blake Lively Is Lily Bloom
"A flower that's still blooming."
That is how the film's official Instagram account described the Gossip Girl alum's character, who is the florist at the center of a love triangle. To portray the beloved character, Blake dyed her signature blonde tresses red. Fans got their first look at Blake's fiery new hue when she was spotted on the New York-area set.
Not only will Justin Baldoni portray Lily's complicated doctor love interest, but the Jane the Virgin star is also directing the movie.
As for the rest of the behind-the-scenes team, both Justin and Blake as well as Colleen will have creative say as executive producers. Other producers include Alex Saks (The Florida Project) and Christy Hall (I Am Not Okay With This), who is writing the script, per a press release from Wayfarer Studios and Sony Pictures.
Blake isn't the only cast member changing up her hairstyle for her character as Justin chopped off his long hair prior to filming to achieve Ryle's clean-cut look. Justin documented his haircut in an April 15 Instagram video, revealing he was donating his strands to Locks of Love.
In addition to cutting his hair, Justin also revealed he was hitting the gym. "A lot of change in one week," Justin captioned an April 17 gym selfie. "Cut my hair. Started eating carbs. And now I'm seeking validation from strangers on the internet by posting thirst traps. Wait …is this a thirst trap? Just Googled it. Don't google thirst trap."
Brandon Sklenar—star of the Yellowstone spinoff 1923—is set to play Atlas, Lily's childhood friend and former flame who becomes a romantic rival for Ryle.
Justin confirmed Brandon's casting on Twitter April 20, writing, "Ladies and gentleman… meet your #Atlas."
After the news was announced, Brandon took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message about joining the movie.
"When this project came along I wasn't aware of this book or the tremendous impact it has had on women all over the world in helping them to have the strength to change their lives," he wrote on April 21. "This is something very personal to me. The amount of women I've known who have been victims of abuse is staggering. It is our intention that this film continues to spread the vital message of this book; for women to feel empowered and men to be better. I'm honored to be a part of it."
It was announced May 1 that Jenny Slate had joined the film's roster as Allysa, Ryle's sister and Lily's best friend. "Pinch me," Justin wrote on Instagram of the Saturday Night Live alum's casting. "Hey sis!"
Describing Jenny as "one of the most talented humans," Colleen admitted on social media that she "can't even believe she'll be in this movie."
And Young Lily Is...
The actress picked to portray a younger version of Blake is Isabela Ferrer, according to IMDb.
Justin confirmed in April 2023 that they had found their star following an extensive search that included an open casting call on social media."Thank you for being a part of the process, it was inspiring and all of the messages we received was just validation for why we're making this movie and why this movie is so important," he shared on Instagram. "We found our young Lily, we'll be announcing her soon."
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It Ends with Us: A Novel by Colleen Hoover
Grab your copy of It Ends With Us now, and immerse yourself in the story before the highly anticipated movie hits theaters.