Blake Lively approved final cut of ‘It Ends with Us’ amid feud with co-star director Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively approved the final cut of “It Ends With Us” after clashing with director and co-star Justin Baldoni, Page Six is told.
The actress helped shape the version movie-goers are seeing on the big screen as she felt it was important to bring more “feminine” touches to the end result, multiple sources said.
The new movie made $50 million on its opening weekend.
Lively, 36, was a producer on the project, which is based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling book. A studio insider told Page Six: “There were two edits and the studio went with a more feminine edit.”
Sources close to production with knowledge of the situation however, denied this, as another studio source said, “As a producer, Blake was given the opportunity to provide edits and feedback to the film. It’s completely normal for there to be multiple edits of a film.
“Sony went with the cut they deemed to be the best, and that was a cut that included Blake’s edits, and all parties were on board.”
Page Six previously revealed how Blake was made to feel “uncomfortable” by Baldoni, particularly about her postpartum body after giving birth to her fourth child, son Olin, shortly before filming.
The pair have not promoted the movie together and did not pose together at the New York premiere last week. We told how they even sat in different theaters at the premiere.
Baldoni, 40, admitted there were issues on set, telling Elle UK, “There are all these things that happen every day on set, there’s always friction that happens when you make a movie like this.
“Then at the end of the day, it’s that friction, I believe, that creates the beautiful art. Everything in life needs friction to grow.”
Lively has spoken about contributing to almost every aspect of “It Ends With Us,” including putting her touches on the music, costumes, dialogue and more.
She even revealed how her husband, Ryan Reynolds, wrote one of the most important scenes in the movie. “The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it,” she told E! News.
In a recent interview with UK’s Hits Radio, Lively also admitted that “they begged me” to remove Lana Del Rey’s song “Cherry” from the film, saying, “I’m not supposed to be talking about this, but …”
Baldoni bought the rights to the book via his production company, Wayfarer, back in 2019. That deal reportedly includes the rights to Hoover’s sequel, “It Starts With Us.”
The movie has thrived at the box office. However, when asked about returning to direct a potential sequel, Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight, “I think there are better people for that one. I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s what I think.”
We have reached out to reps for Lively and Baldoni for comment.
