The release of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us” was apparently overshadowed by rumors of a feud between lead actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

Fans first noticed that something was wrong between the two when they failed to do any press work together for the film and even avoided each other at the premiere on August 6, 2024.

Several sources told Page Six at the time that Baldoni and Lively did not get along on set.

An insider initially told us that Baldoni, who is also the film’s director, made Lively feel “uncomfortable” and created an “extremely difficult” atmosphere on set for the cast in general.

And while sources who have worked with Baldoni told us he would never intentionally embarrass anyone, other insiders claimed that Lively wasn’t the only one having issues with him.

“None of the cast enjoyed working with Justin… They certainly didn’t talk to him at the premiere,” one noted.

Read on to find out everything we know about the rumored drama It Ends With Us.

Creative differences

According to the Hollywood Reporter, one reason for the feud between Baldoni and Lively was allegedly deep creative differences on set. While Baldoni was the director, Lively was also a producer of the film.

“During post-production, a rift occurred among the filmmakers, resulting in two different cuts of the film,” the outlet reported.

A source also said Lively has commissioned an edit of the film from editor Shane Reid, who worked on “Deadpool & Wolverine” with her husband Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Reid previously worked with Lively on Taylor Swift’s music video “I Bet You Think About Me,” which she directed.

The former “Gossip Girl” actress highlighted the use of Lana Del Rey’s “Cherry” in the film as an example of the creative differences, saying it was “too charged and heavy.”

Rolling her eyes, she told Hits Radio UK: “They begged me to take it out of the film. … I shouldn’t talk about it.”

Ryan Reynolds’ role

The creative differences between Lively and Baldoni could have been further fueled when Reynold appeared to take over the script for one of the scenes in the film.

During the film’s premiere, Lively told E! News, “The iconic rooftop scene was actually written by my husband. Nobody knows that except you now.”

“He works on everything I do. I work on everything he does,” she noted at the time.

All hands on deck

Baldoni also revealed that Lively was involved in “every aspect” of the production.

“With every touch she made it better,” he told “Extra.”

“I’m grateful to Blake for being a powerful artist and a great collaborator, and I’m grateful to all the people and crew as well,” Baldoni added.

Passing the baton

After admitting Reynolds and Lively’s involvement, Baldoni hinted that he would no longer direct the sequel, It Starts With Us.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, he described the actress who played Lily Blossom Bloom as a “better” option to direct the potential adaptation.

He also told Variety that he has not yet committed to the project, even though his company, Wayfarer Studios, has acquired the rights to a film adaptation of “It Starts With Us.”

“I haven’t even started thinking that far ahead. I’m trying to stay in the present as much as possible,” he told the outlet in July 2024.

Two separate camps

Baldoni walked the carpet during the film’s premiere, posing only with his wife Emily Fuxler.

Meanwhile, Lively posed with Hoover, Brandon Sklenar, who plays Atlas, and Jenny Slate, who plays Alyssa.

She also posed with her husband and Hugh Jackman, who stars with Reynolds in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

It was also reported that Lively and the cast saw the film in one theater while Baldoni and his wife watched in another. Even when Hoover and Lively introduced the film before the screening, Baldoni was absent.

Absent Baldoni

It is particularly noteworthy that Baldoni is promoting the film and is available for interviews alone.

On the other hand, Lively has done press tours with Sklenar and Isabela Ferrer, who plays a younger version of her character in the film, and others.

Fans have also pointed out that their interviews suggest they are promoting two different films, as Baldoni speaks out about the domestic violence in the film while Lively talks about wardrobe and how abuse does not “define” her character.

After days of criticism for her “tone-deaf” behavior and for keeping quiet about the domestic violence her character experiences in the film, Lively attempted to make things right by sharing resources for victims of abuse in an August 2024 Instagram story.

She also republished a BBC interview in which she explained that her character was more than just a “survivor” and a “victim.”

Although Lively has yet to address her alleged falling out with Baldoni, Slate went viral for completely dodging a question about her collaboration with Baldono, who had to juggle both the roles of director and actor in the film.

“What an intense job,” the comedian joked to Deadline. “Having to do so many things.”

Shadow of social media

Many fans have noticed that most of Baldoni’s co-stars don’t follow him on Instagram – and that includes the series’ writer, Hoover.

Hoover and Baldoni first came into contact in 2019 when the latter secured the film rights to her book.

Throwback footage

After a social media user shared footage of Lively and Baldoni seemingly arguing on set in 2023, it was revealed on August 13, 2024 that he had hired experienced PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan.

TMZ claimed the following day that Lively, who recently gave birth to baby No. 4, believed her co-star had shamed her on set about her obesity by asking his trainer how much she weighed and how he could avoid back injuries when lifting her.

The outlet also reported that she felt he lingered too long on one of their kissing scenes.