Controversy Erupts When Blake Lively Casts Cast In Film Adaptation Of ‘It Ends With Us’

Like the Twilight casting controversy in 2007, too many people have had their own visions of how these characters should look and feel that it’s a nearly impossible task for casting directors to pinpoint exactly.

Enter stage left, Met Gala enthusiast and Gossip Girl icon Blake Lively, 35, as Lily, e Jane the Virginis Justin Baldoni, 39, as Ryle.

Source: Getty Images

Colleen Hoover took to TikTok to share the news and her glee over the casting decisions, but the internet had other ideas — from the actors’ ages to their decision to be involved in the adaptation, given the controversy the novel has been involved. with in recent months.

How did he do It ends with us become popular?

While Colleen Hoover has amassed over 20 novels over the years, she has been It ends with us which cemented her as a standout writer for a new generation of tech-obsessed readers.

The book was published in 2016 and second Forbes, has sold over four million copies since its release. In Australia, the book took first place and Hoover had nearly half as many titles as she did in the Sydney Morning Herald top 10 bestsellers of 2022.

It ends with us has received a lot of love from the #BookTok community, a group of avid readers who recommend the novels they’ve read to other bookworms on the app.

Given the novel’s success, it was picked up by Sony Pictures, and we haven’t been given any further details on the film’s progress so far.

What is the plot of ‘It Ends With Us’?

Image: Provided

It ends with us tells the story of Lily Bloom, a college graduate and aspiring entrepreneur who has moved to Boston from Maine and meets an attractive neurosurgeon, named Ryle, on a rooftop where she likes to go to clear her head.

Lily’s father has just died, and as she re-reads her childhood diaries she details a dark and grim history in her nuclear family (and a lost childhood sweetheart, named Atlas, who turned her world upside down).

Meanwhile, Lily launches into life in Boston, her new shop, and exploring a relationship with the handsome but aloof doctor, who has his skeletons in his closet. In the process, she discovers that the shadows of her past may not be as far away as she wishes they were, and that she must deal with the trauma of her past (and present) to find her way back to her.

It is a controversial novel, dealing with the themes of love and romance, but also violence and control.

Who has been entered It ends with us?

Image: Getty Images

While Colleen Hoover has shared that Blake Lively will play Lily Bloom and Justin Baldoni will play Ryle Kincaid, the casting of Atlas Corrigan and Lily’s mother has yet to be announced.

Baldoni will also direct the film while Lively will executive produce.

To announce the news, Hoover visited her childhood home, where she says her mother escaped domestic violence and created a safe haven for her children. He shared how personal the story is, given its vague association with his mother’s life and her journey to escape a “scary situation.”

“I think Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively have what it takes to bring these characters to life, and I can’t wait for you guys to see that happen,” she said, in the emotional video.

While Blake Lively has yet to make a public comment, she shared a selfie of herself with auburn hair, which reminded fans of Lily’s signature red locks. In addition to the “Easter egg,” he chose the song “Lily” by the Smashing Pumpkins as a tribute to his new persona of him.

Why do people think Blake Lively shouldn’t have been cast in ‘It Ends With Us’?

With such mass appeal, there have been countless people who have read the novel and imagined what the characters of Ryle and Lily should be like. So, when the casting was announced, some fans started questioning Blake Lively’s age, as he will be 35 while he plays a 23-year-old woman.

Of course, casting people who are nowhere near the age of their character is nothing new in Hollywood. Andrew Garfield was 29 when he played a teenage Peter Parker The Incredible Spider-Man and Rachel McAdams was 26 when she played a teenage Regina George Bad Girls.

However, many fans feel that the role should have been given to a younger, more popular actress, Sadie Sink, with her flowing locks of a deep red.

Source: Twitter

It’s important to note that the same visceral age-based reaction wasn’t seen with the casting of Baldoni as Ryle. Ryle is 30 in the book, while Baldoni is 39.

It follows that if it’s such a controversial decision to have an older actress play a younger female character, the same hype should apply to an older male actor playing a younger male character.

The lack of consistency in casting response suggests that to this day in public discourse, a woman’s appearance, age and parental status are more closely scrutinized than those of their male counterparts.

However, some fans might also attest that it is Lily’s youth and ingenuity that provide the basis for her early decisions in the book and the foundation of her character. Along those lines, some argue it would have been more appropriate to go with a 23-year-old (or even younger) actor to view that backdrop of bad decisions made in the blur of a young romance.

Blake Lively fans are also criticizing her decision to get involved with the It ends with us Drama

Image: Instagram

While the novel was widely read, it also received much criticism for its depiction of domestic violence and abuse.

Hoover’s decisions about promoting the book have also been controversial, particularly his recent choice to publish a It ends with us coloring in the book, which some say may romanticize domestic violence. Hoover panned its production following online criticism.

“The coloring book was developed with Lily’s strength in mind, but I can totally see how off-key it was,” Hoover shared on Instagram. “I’m listening to you guys and I agree with you. No excuses. No pointing fingers. I have contacted the publisher to let them know that I would rather we not move forward. Thank you for the respectful speech and responsibility.

Afterward, Blake’s fans commented that they wish they could have prevented her from getting involved in the gossip circus surrounding the high-profile film.

When It ends with us be released?

It has not yet been announced when It ends with us will be released, but is currently in development by Sony Pictures. A trailer or any images from the film have yet to be shared.

Where to buy It ends with us:

If you haven’t read the book yet and want to see what it’s all about, you can pick up a copy of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel here.