Justin Baldoni seems to have only positive things to say about his It ends with us Co-Star, Blake Livelywhile reports of a feud on the set continue to circulate on the Internet.

As the drama officially hits theaters on Friday, August 9, Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively, had high praise for his on-screen partner.

“Blake has been involved in every aspect of the film since she joined the project, from the scenes and dialogue to the end, until now,” he said Weekly entertainment“She was involved in everything, she was a creative powerhouse and a wonderful collaborator.”

It ends with us, This is adapted from Colleen HooverThe bestselling novel of the same name is about florist Lily Bloom (Lively), who enters into an abusive relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni).

In the midst of their turbulent relationship, Lily’s first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), reappears in her life.

As fans prepare to see the highly anticipated adaptation on the big screen, take a look at what Baldoni said about Lively ahead of the film’s release:

Why was Blake Lively the perfect casting choice?

When searching for the perfect actress to play Lily, Baldoni said the team wanted someone who was “extremely charming and personable and someone everyone would root for.” Soon, Lively’s name was at the top of the list.

“The only thing she didn’t check was that she doesn’t have red hair, which is very easy to fix in the film business!” Baldoni joked. People“She’s a creative force. She’s an executive producer on the film and she’s so brilliant. I think her performance will help a lot of women feel seen and showcase this unique experience in a way that I don’t think I’ve ever seen in any other film.”

How much feedback did Blake Lively give?

When it came time to shoot difficult abuse scenes for the film, Baldoni said it was “really challenging” to juggle his roles as an actor and director. Fortunately, Lively proved to be a helpful guide and resource.

“Blake was a wonderful partner in these situations,” he said Weekly entertainment“It’s been so difficult, but I think I surround myself with people I trust and really talented creative people. And when I get to the point where I can’t see the forest for the trees, I turn to my partners and ask them what they think.”

“I really trusted her,” Baldoni continued. “She has a great eye and she was on the other side, so it was very tough and there was just a lot of trust. I had a lot of trust in the people around me and they never misled me.”

Baldoni added that he relied on Lively and the women working on set to ensure the film’s focus was on the female perspective.

“To be completely honest, in many situations I have laid out my vision and then stepped back and let the women run the set and the show,” said Baldoni The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Saturday, August 10. “Blake was very involved as well and had a lot of ideas about how this should work. There were a lot of moments where I didn’t even say a word, I just watched and thought: yeah, that sounds great.”

He continued: “I was then able to actually engage with Ryle because those were the moments when it was most complex for Ryle and the most difficult for me as an actor. So they took a lot of the weight off my shoulders and also made sure that each of those scenes was handled with care and also that there was a female point of view rather than a male one, because that was one of my first concerns when I was wondering if I could even make this film. I wanted to make sure that it preserved and maintained the message of the book from a female perspective.”

How did Blake Lively help with intimate scenes?

In January 2024, cameras caught Baldoni and Lively kissing during filming of the movie. For viewers who notice on-screen chemistry, Baldoni is quick to give credit to his co-star. “When it came to intimacy and all that, (Lively) had a really clear vision and she told me what she thought would work, what she thought would be sexy,” he said Access to Hollywood“From the beginning, it had to take a female point of view and I never wanted my biases as a man to influence or harm the project.”

What did Justin Baldoni think about working with Blake Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds?

Before the film hit theaters, Lively confirmed that her husband Ryan Reynoldswrote a pivotal scene in the film. Before the revelation, Baldoni seemed to hint that the Dead Pool actor helped with the project. “Ryan was so generous. … He’s a creative genius, that guy,” he told Today.com. “So, you know, his gift is levity, and her gift is levity.”

When asked if he would work with the couple again, he replied: “If they want me.”

Related: Blake Lively wears Lily Bloom-inspired looks for her “It Ends With Us” tour

Blake Lively’s fresh floral style during the It Ends With Us tour has taken over the internet – and we can’t get enough of it. While promoting It Ends With Us, which hits theaters on Friday, August 9, Lively took inspiration from her character, florist Lily Bloom, and rocked a series of floral designs, including bright (…)

Will Justin Baldoni work with Blake Lively again for a sequel?

Book lovers know that It ends with us brought a It starts with us sequel in 2022, set years after the OG book. When asked about a possible second dose of acting and directing, Baldoni said it was too early to say. “You’ll have to ask me that shortly. We’ll be on vacation after that,” he said Entertainment tonight before announcing his choice for the sequel’s director. “I think there are better people for this movie. I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s my opinion.”

It ends with us is now in theaters.