Under ordinary circumstances, a sequel to the female-focused drama It Ends With Us would be a no-brainer.
The $25 million-budgeted Sony Pictures film has collected more than $180 million globally since opening Aug. 9, and author Colleen Hoover already published a best-selling sequel, the 2022 novel It Starts With Us.
But the well-publicized rift between star-producer Blake Lively and director-star Justin Baldoni has observers now wondering whether a sequel is viable, at least with both of them involved.
Both Lively’s flower shop owner Lily and Baldoni’s abusive neurosurgeon Ryle are in the book sequel.
Further complicating matters: Baldoni developed It Ends With Us from the ground up after acquiring the rights from Hoover five years ago via Wayfarer Studios, which he co-founded with billionaire Steve Sarowitz and runs with Jamey Heath.
Sources say Wayfarer has rights to the sequel It Starts With Us, which would mean Lively and Baldoni working together, even if Baldoni did not direct and his role was recast.
Sony distributed It Ends With Us, and insiders tell The Hollywood Reporter that the studio also would have the right to distribute the sequel.
Baldoni has said there are no formal plans for a sequel, though he did say on the press tour that he believed Lively was ready to direct it.
A sequel to the drama It Ends With Us, which focuses on women, would seem obvious in an ordinary situation. Since its August premiere, the $25 million-budget Sony Pictures production has taken in over $180 million worldwide. 9, and the author Colleen Hoover has already released the best-selling follow-up book, It Begins With Us, in 2022. However, given the well-known falling out between star-producer Blake Lively and star-director Justin Baldoni, observers are now questioning whether a sequel is possible, at least with both of them in it.
The abusive neurosurgeon Ryle of Baldoni and Lively’s flower shop owner Lily are both featured in the book’s sequel. The fact that Baldoni created It Ends With Us from the ground up after purchasing the rights from Hoover five years prior through Wayfarer Studios—which he co-founded with billionaire Steve Sarowitz and co-runs with Jamey Heath—complicates matters further.
If Lively and Baldoni collaborated on the follow-up It Starts With Us, even if Baldoni did not direct and instead had his role recast, Wayfarer would own the rights to the project, according to contacts. Insiders tell The Hollywood Reporter that Sony, which distributed It Ends With Us, would also be entitled to distribute the follow-up.
Given the film’s subject matter of domestic violence, social media users unearthed embarrassing, lighthearted interview segments from Lively and chastised her for promoting her new hair care line at the same time that Baldoni was accused of creating an awkward set that alienated both Lively and the cast. According to a source, there has been a rift for at least a year. Lively is not looking forward to shooting again after the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strike halted work. Their private moments were reserved for after the strike. Following the conclusion of principal photography, the movie was reshot for a week. During this time, several versions of the film were produced, including the version that is currently playing in theaters and that Lively herself preferred. Despite saying during the press tour that he thought Lively was ready to direct, Baldoni has stated there are no official plans for a sequel.
Not that the drama detracts from the movie. It dropped a healthy 52% in its second weekend, according to sources, and there was a significant amount of repeat business, indicating that fans are still engaged despite the negative press. Regarding Sony, the company made it clear that it supports Lively. In August. 14. Sony Pictures Entertainment chair-CEO Tony Vinciquerra made personal jabs at Lively, Hoover, and the female cast members as the online unrest surrounding the Baldoni-Lively split continued to escalate. Baldoni was conspicuously absent from his public acclaim. The executive declared, “We adore working with Blake and hope to work with her on 12 more films.”. “.
It is unclear which of those 12 films will be It Starts With Us.
This report includes contributions from Borys Kit and Pamela McClintock.
