Blake Lively described her experience producing and starring in “It Ends With Us,” the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, as profoundly demanding. At the film’s premiere in New York, Lively shared with Variety, “Taking on both the acting and producing roles required every ounce of my energy. The producing side was even more consuming than my acting. I was involved in every aspect of the film.”
The story, mirroring its literary origin, centers on Lily Bloom, who falls for a charismatic neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid. As Ryle’s violent behavior surfaces, Lily confronts echoes of the domestic abuse she witnessed in her parents’ relationship and finds the courage to leave. Hoover’s book gained tremendous popularity through TikTok’s “BookTok” in 2022, selling four million copies.
Reflecting on her dedication to the film, Lively remarked, “I poured my love, passion, and perseverance into this project, sacrificing sleep and time. Walking into this premiere, I feel immense pride, knowing I’ve given everything I had. This is one of the greatest achievements of my career.”
Directed and co-starred by Justin Baldoni, who secured the film rights in 2019, the adaptation initially started as a smaller indie project before Sony turned it into a major film. Baldoni, reflecting on the adaptation, noted, “The film’s dual nature is intentional. We aimed to mirror real life, capturing both the allure of a perfect romance and the harsh reality of violence that follows.”
The film portrays Bloom’s seemingly perfect romance with Ryle, only revealing its darker aspects as Bloom herself does. Baldoni emphasized that this perspective was crucial to understanding the character’s choices and struggles. “We wanted to honor the experiences of real survivors, showing their journey and encouraging them to seek help.”
The film ends where Hoover’s sequel, “It Starts With Us,” begins. Hoover expressed openness to a sequel but noted she needed legal approval. Baldoni remained reserved about the potential for continuing the franchise but hoped the film’s emotional impact would resonate and encourage further success.