Justin Baldoni, Director and Star of ‘It Ends With Us,’ Believes Blake Lively is Well-Suited to Direct the Sequel, Calling for ‘Better People’

The highly anticipated romance drama It Ends With Us is making waves at the box office, with a robust $7 million earned from Thursday previews and an expected opening weekend total exceeding $40 million.

This success prompts speculation about whether the cast will reunite for a sequel. The film is adapted from Colleen Hoover’s 2016 bestseller of the same name, with Hoover’s sequel, It Starts With Us, released in 2022.

During the premiere of It Ends With Us, director and lead actor Justin Baldoni discussed the possibility of returning for a potential sequel. To the surprise of many, Baldoni indicated he is not interested in directing the follow-up.

“There are better candidates for that job,” Baldoni suggested. “Blake Lively could be a great fit as a director.” Lively stars in the film as Lily Bloom, a flower shop owner who becomes romantically involved with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, portrayed by Baldoni. Lively also served as a producer. Brandon Sklenar plays Atlas Corrigan, Lily’s teenage love.

The film’s plot focuses on Lily’s complicated love life and the challenges posed by Ryle’s violent tendencies. Both Lively and Sklenar’s characters return in the sequel novel, but Baldoni has no plans to direct the second installment.

Rumors have surfaced about possible tensions between Baldoni and Lively concerning the movie’s final cut, though neither has addressed these speculations. Baldoni acquired the film rights to Hoover’s novel, expressing deep emotional engagement with the book.

Hoover, who had rejected other offers, was persuaded by Baldoni’s heartfelt proposal about the project. Baldoni also mentioned that his production company, Wayfarer Studios, holds the option on the sequel novel but is currently focused on the present project.