Justin Baldoni rules out It Ends With Us return after feud rumours-Joel Harley-Entertainment – Metro

Justin Baldoni directs the adaptation It Ends With Us (Picture: GC Images)

Filmmaker and actor Justin Baldoni has revealed how he has no plans to return for a sequel to his hit film It Ends With Us.

On release now, the film stars Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, a young woman who overcomes her own tragic childhood in order to find a new life and love with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid – also played by director Justin Baldoni.

An adaptation of the 2016 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, its story at first follows the couple as their relationship comes under threat when her first love – Brandon Sklenar’s Atlas Corrigan – re-enters her life.

However, as rumours of on-set drama surrounding the director and his cast continue to circulate, the Jane the Virgin star has revealed how he plans to pass on the sequel.

Social media users have speculated on perceived tension between the director and the cast after noticing that he does not appear in any photos with his co-stars at the film’s premiere.

Releasing a statement, Justin has suggested that star Blake Lively could step into the director’s chair when the time comes to adapt the next book in the series.

Justin ruled out directing a sequel for It Ends With Us (Picture: AP)

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the film’s premiere, Justin said: ‘This isn’t my night—this is a night for all the women who we made this movie for. This is a night for Blake, this is a night for Colleen. I’m just so grateful that we’re here, five years in the making.

And, when questioned whether he might direct the sequel, he went on to say: ‘I think there are better people for that one.

‘I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct. That’s what I think,’ he added.

As conspiracy theories continued to spread, one keen-eyed TikTok user pointed out how almost none of the film’s cast and crew follow him on Instagram, in spite of his following them all.

There film has been dogged by rumours of a feud (Picture: AP)

Meanwhile, at the premiere, actor Jenny Slate (who plays Ryle’s sister), appeared to ignore a journalist’s question as he asked what it was like to work with the director, instead describing his role as an ‘intense job.’

This interaction caused one X user to speculate that she had ‘completely ignored’ the question, hinting at bad blood between the director and his cast.

Regardless of rumours of set tension, Justin has had nothing but good things to say about co-star Blake, describing her to Movies.ie as an ‘all-encompassing creative who makes everything she touches better’ and ‘all-encompassing creative who makes everything she touches better’.

‘I believe she gave the performance of a lifetime, and I can’t wait for people to see how great she is in this film,’ he continued.

The film is an adaptation of a popular novel (Picture: AP)

Elsewhere, author Colleen Hooever described the actor and director as a ‘truly kind person’ in a comment to Variety.

Beyond its behind-the-scenes drama, the film has also courted accusations of glamourising abusive relationships, with the film being marketed as a light-hearted romance in spite of its darker themes.

The film’s trailer did it no favours, with many fans worrying that it hadn’t done enough to highlight the fact that the film is actually about an abusive relationship.

Sex and relationships expert Annabelle Knight told Metro.co.uk: ‘This kind of marketing can be misleading and even upsetting for viewers who aren’t expecting the darker themes.

‘The film should be presented with the seriousness it deserves, especially given it’s inspired by Colleen Hoover’s mother’s real-life experiences.’

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