“Everyone knew that they didn’t like each other,” says one crew member, who nevertheless believes the feverish gossip around the conflict is overblown.
Still, all three crew members say that while the acrimony may seem intense from the outside, it all boils down to a mismatch of creative approaches and personalities.
“There were such conflicting ideas of how to make the movie, and since Blake was bankrolling it, Justin couldn’t really put his foot down,” offers one crew member.
(Representatives for Baldoni and Lively didn’t respond to requests for comment on these reports.)
CREW MEMBERS WHO spoke to Rolling Stone say they noticed a shift in Lively’s demeanor and enthusiasm during filming.
The three crew members say Lively was not the presence on set they expected.
“There was lots of talk about, if this wasn’t contractually obligated she probably would have just scrapped the whole thing,” one crew member says.
“Justin Baldoni is very much about ‘Namaste, peace, love,’ and is a happy guy,” one crew member says.
Two crew members who worked on the set of Five Feet Apart tell Rolling Stone they enjoyed working with Baldoni and would happily do so again.
“I understood that he had a lot of weight on his shoulders that he was carrying,” one crew member says.
Three crew members who worked on the film tell Rolling Stone that creative differences and a power struggle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were evident during filming, amidst ongoing rumors about a potential feud between the two co-stars of It Ends With Us.
The crew members claim that during the on-again, off-again production, which took place in New Jersey from March to June 2023, they witnessed Lively and Baldoni’s divergent methods of filmmaking and noticed a change in Lively’s demeanor during the process. Before long, it was evident that she didn’t want to be there, according to all three of the sources—who wished to remain anonymous for fear of losing their jobs.
One crew member asserts, “Everyone knew that they didn’t like each other,” but he or she still thinks the frenzied rumors about the dispute are exaggerated. Some of the online rumors seem a little strong, in my opinion. They do not appear to despise one another. However, I doubt that they would collaborate once more. They have far too disparate styles. Blake has excellent practicality and a strong business sense. They were never going to be friends because Justin is so different from the reason he creates art. “.
Baldoni directed and produced the Wayfarer Studios adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s well-known novel, which follows Lively’s Lily Bloom as she navigates an abusive relationship with Baldoni’s Ryle Kincaid. Lily struggles with a pattern of abuse in her life that is brought to light by Ryle’s physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, in addition to considering picking up her high school sweetheart again and dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Since the movie’s premiere on August. 9. Talk about the movie itself has been eclipsed by the circus that is the media coverage of It Ends With Us. However, in spite of— or maybe even because of— the two stars’ apparent conflict, the movie has made over $240 million worldwide at the box office since its release.
Editors’ selections.
Fans could not have helped but notice the tension between Baldoni and Lively after they seemed to avoid one another during the movie’s August premiere. New York City has six. Not only did the actors take separate pictures on the carpet, but Page Six claims that during the premiere, they sat in different theaters at the AMC Lincoln sq\. cineplex. The social media absence of Hoover and the majority of the other cast members of It Ends With Us sparked rumors of a falling out between the lead actor-director and all of the other actors, particularly Lively, who is also an executive producer on the movie.
Although they were employed and compensated by Wayfarer, the crew members who spoke with Rolling Stone claimed that Baldoni and Lively appeared to avoid each other on set; one source even said they “never saw them together” unless it was absolutely necessary. Even so, all three crew members agree that, despite the intense exterior appearance of animosity, the root of the problem is a mismatch in creative styles and personalities.
One member of the crew says, “There were such conflicting ideas of how to make the movie, and Justin couldn’t really put his foot down since Blake was bankrolling it.”. Furthermore, he lacked a strong opinion. He’s an actor’s director; he’s very good at both acting and directing actors, but I don’t think the overall direction of the film was his style. “.
Requests for comments from the representatives of Baldoni and Lively went unanswered.
In his book Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity, published in 2021, interview show “The Man Enough Podcast,” and other public appearances, Baldoni has established a reputation as an outspoken feminist who challenges conventional notions of masculinity. When it comes to gender and women’s issues, the plot of It Ends With Us makes perfect sense. It tells the story of a woman who navigates an abusive relationship with a man before ending it in order to protect herself and her daughter. TMZ, however, claims that Lively told people about two incidents where she felt uncomfortable around Baldoni on the set: she felt he lingered longer than he should have during a scene where the two shared a kiss. They further assert that she experienced fat-shaming when he inquired about her weight with his on-set trainer prior to her being lifted in a scene. According to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, Baldoni has a history of back issues and informed his trainer that he wanted to train in order to prevent further injuries. (Answers to queries regarding these reports from the representatives of Baldoni and Lively were not received. ( ).
In connection.
Though it seems some have sided with Lively, the cast of It Ends With Us has mostly kept silent about the drama behind the scenes. “The principal cast and Colleen Hoover will have nothing to do with [Baldoni],” a source told People. Next, on August… 20, The first cast member to address the controversy was Brandon Sklenar, who plays Atlas, Lily’s other love interest. “The women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves,” Sklenar wrote in a lengthy Instagram post in which she defended Lively, Hoover, and the other women in the movie against any negative feedback they may be receiving from the general public. “.
“It seems counterproductive and takes away from the essence of the film to disparage the women who gave this production so much of their hearts and souls because they firmly believe in its message. It’s actually the exact opposite of what the point is,” he wrote.
In his writing, Sklenar also made a hint about potential problems that might have arisen on set: “Whatever may or may not have occurred behind the scenes does not and hopefully should not detract from what our intentions were in making this film.”. The amount of negativity that is projected online has been depressing to observe. “.
Chair and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment Tony Vinciquerra also endorsed Lively, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “Blake, Colleen, and so many other women put so much work into this amazing film, working selflessly from the beginning to ensure that such an important subject matter was handled with care.”. The movie is a hit with viewers. It is admirable that Blake is so passionate about and committed to changing the dialogue about domestic abuse. We would love to work on 12 more films with Blake because we adore working with her. “.
Rolling Stone reached out to Sony Pictures and Wayfarer Studios, but neither company returned our calls for comment.
DURING filming, Lively’s demeanor and enthusiasm changed, according to crew members who spoke with Rolling Stone. They claim that when the project first started, she was eager to get started, bringing in scrapbooks full of ideas and notes about the specifics of her character’s attire and set design. Those involved in production claim that Lively had different ideas about Lily’s wardrobe than the costume department did.
One crew member claims, “We went dark because of picket lines and [during that time] the costume department was running around with their heads cut off trying to figure out how they could change everything to make sure Blake was happy.”. Many returns, exchanges, and purchases of entire wardrobes occurred. “.
When Lively asked them to alter the original plan for Lily’s flower shop in the movie, another member of the crew claims that the production designer was put under pressure. With its rich, dark violet and deep red hues, the lookbook for the original set design reportedly had a “almost Gothic” feel to it, according to a crew member. However, Lively reportedly stated that the look didn’t fit Lily’s persona or sense of style when she visited the production office. Rolling Stone asked to speak with the production designer about the project, but he didn’t answer. The crew member claims that the incident was an illustration of the pressure that existed behind the scenes due to competing ideas, even though the design didn’t change much in the end.
It was not the presence on set that the three crew members had anticipated from Lively. They claim that she frequently experienced schedule conflicts, which is typical for actors but unusual for the lead actor who is also the project’s producer. All three observed that her enthusiasm for the project seemed to abruptly decline shortly after press leaked images of her on set. These sources claim that Lively’s lack of desire to be on set was a topic of much discussion among the production’s line workers.
There was much discussion about how, in the absence of contractual obligations, the crew member “probably would have just scrapped the whole thing.”. Blake initially exhibited excessive dominance, treating us like a larger production than we actually were, and Justin was a little inexperienced in managing a large crew. She was really invested at first, and the more she and Justin interacted, the less she cared about it. However, once she stopped caring, she stopped caring about anything related to the shoot. Normally, that wouldn’t be a huge deal. Plenty of actors are like that. “.
Meanwhile, uncontrollably bad things happened to the production that had nothing to do with Lively or Baldoni. Union laborers demonstrated against the New Jersey set. At one point, some cast members and crew members got Covid, which caused the production to be temporarily stopped. During the first part of June 2023, filming was halted due to the orange sky caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The production was then entirely halted by the writers’ strike at the end of that month. It didn’t resume until January 2024, when it ultimately concluded in Los Angeles that following month. The frequent pauses and starts exacerbated the already difficult shoot and might have prolonged the conflict between its two main stars.
According to a crew member, Baldoni and Lively “seemed pretty amicable,” despite the fact that the lead actors’ creative differences were evident on set. “.
According to the source, “Blake had her own opinions on how she felt things should be done.” Despite their disagreements, they were amicable about it. Justin contributed a few remarks. Blake offered her his opinion. She undoubtedly had a say in the scenes, and that influence showed in her attire and other details. However, that’s rather typical. “.
Another crew member concurs. According to them, a lot of what you see online gives the impression that the workplace was hostile, which it wasn’t in any way, shape, or form. “All individuals displayed a high level of professionalism. Everyone was amicable. They didn’t scream at one another. There was no “Oh, Mom and Dad have to go yell at each other behind a closed door.”. That kind of thing didn’t happen. “.
Crew members testified that Baldoni made an attempt to create a friendly atmosphere by getting to know each person personally and bridging the divide that usually exists between production personnel below and above the line (writers, directors, actors, and producers) and above the line in general. They claim that he would bound into the production office or onto the set, high-fiving everyone. They call him a “super nice” guy who made small talk whenever possible.
In preparation for playing Ryle, Baldoni informed the crew that he would be donating his hair to a charitable organization. This was because another cast member had a summertime hair cut that they donate in memory of their mother, who passed away from breast cancer. Baldoni also extended an invitation to the crew to see Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves in March 2023 at Jersey City’s Newport Center Mall, as a way to honor Barry Peterson, the film’s director of photography and D&D collaborator. Baldoni was present and covered the cost of the small party.
One crew member remarks, “Justin Baldoni is a happy guy and very much about ‘Namaste, peace, love.'”. He was a lot more approachable and accessible than almost any other director or lead actor I’ve ever worked with. “.
Despite Baldoni’s generosity, some crew members still believed he was a green director. Though Baldoni’s directorial debut was limited to the 2019 romantic comedy Five ft\. Apart, which starred Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson, and the 2020 Disney+ film Clouds, some members of the crew felt he was “out of his depth” directing It Ends With Us, which was a more important project than either of those movies.
There exist two categories of directors: those who demand complete control over every aspect of the production, including color and costume selection, and those who appoint reliable individuals to handle actors during rehearsal and in front of the camera. One crew member clarifies that Baldoni “didn’t have notes on anything,” adding that Justin was “very much the latter.”. “.
“He only employed individuals he trusted, but Blake, as executive producer, really wanted to be involved in everything, which is acceptable. That did not upset anyone. However, it appears that she was somewhat surprised by Justin’s lack of control. “.
According to sources cited by The Hollywood Reporter, Lively asked editor Shane Reid, who previously worked as an editor on her husband Ryan Reynolds’ most recent film, Deadpool & Wolverine, to rewrite It Ends With Us.
Rolling Stone is informed by two crew members that worked on the set of Five ft\. Apart that they had a great time working with Baldoni and would gladly do so again. It seems from all the signs that the stars of It Ends With Us don’t feel the same way, and that feeling might even be reciprocal. Entertainment Tonight asked Baldoni at the film’s premiere if he would be open to directing and starring in a follow-up film based on Hoover’s It Starts with Us book. “I think there are better people for that one,” Baldoni declared, throwing out the ideal candidate to assume the directing role right away. Blake Lively seems prepared to helm. “.
Regarding direct collaboration with Lively, a crew member with over 20 years of film industry experience responds, “It was fine.”. That will be our last statement. A good shoot took place. I’ve worked on productions all with their own cast of characters, and that’s just the way it is. Everything is fine. “.
The conflict between Baldoni and Lively gained a whole new dimension following the premiere, according to the crew members who talked with Rolling Stone. They say the situation spiraled beyond what they saw on set because of fan speculation and press coverage that blew everything out of proportion.
All the gossip has done is divert attention away from the true subject of the movie, which is domestic violence. It Ends With Us’s promotional campaign has additionally come under fire for trivializing the touchy subject matter. Following the movie’s release, Lively shared a link to the National Domestic Violence Hotline along with a post on her Instagram story discussing the role domestic violence plays in the story. Additionally, Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios revealed a collaboration with the No More Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers resources and access to assistance to victims of sexual and domestic abuse. People who collaborated with Baldoni behind the scenes claim that he constantly hammered home the movie’s message and stressed how crucial it was to get the message out to audiences.
As one of the crew members puts it, “I understood that he had a lot of weight that he was carrying.”. “He consistently emphasized to us that, in addition to striving to produce the greatest product possible, we also owed it to the victims of domestic abuse to tell their story in a truthful and respectful manner and to bring attention to it. He kept telling us that this movie could really make a difference in people’s lives. “.
In style.
Despite all the drama off-screen, the film’s box office success suggests that its message has been received well. Even though we’re still not sure what exactly transpired between them, it seems ironic that the public is demanding more if the show’s performance is a referendum on the working relationship between its two stars. Crew members who spent four months observing and working with Baldoni and Lively and who spoke with Rolling Stone described it as just a creative conflict that has gotten out of hand in the public’s perception. Nonetheless, the persistent fan chatter, the unidentified sources who provide the media with rumors and accusations, and the major players’ egregious silence all point to something more serious. Not many movies can claim that the main actors didn’t get along or mingle at the film’s premiere, let alone It Ends With Us. Thus, what is it about Lively’s star power that has drawn so much attention to this alleged feud? Is it Baldoni’s too-good-to-be-true nice guy persona? Is the fervent Hoover fandom exaggerating passive-aggressive slights that might have gone unnoticed otherwise?
