Bestselling author Colleen Hoover ecstatically confirmed the rumors: Gossip Girl star Blake Lively would be top billing “It Ends With Us” movie adapted from her smash-hit sensation romance of the same title alongside Jane the Virgin actor Justin Baldoni. In her official Instagram video announcement last January 27, Hoover said, “Our Lily is going to be played by Blake Lively. Blake Lively, y’all! She’s my dream Lily. I can’t say it enough.” Then to add to the hype, after the video was posted, Lively shared a sneak peek of her redhead look for her character Lily Bloom on her Instagram story.
The rest of the “It Ends With Us” cast is still under wraps as the movie is currently in development. But hopefully, we’ll get to know them soon, especially who will play Atlas Corrigan. If you read the book, you know.
Blake Lively: New Queen of the CoHorts
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Unless you’re living under a rock, then you have definitely heard the name ‘Blake Lively.’ The actress has been in the industry for more than a decade, making her career debut on the silver screen in 2005 as one of the four best friends in the hit comedy-drama “The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants.” Her performance in the film earned her a nomination for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout Performance.
Two years later, Lively scored her career-defining role as Gossip Girl’s Serena van der Woodsen alongside Leighton Meester’s Blair Waldorf. Their popularity in the CW teen drama has skyrocketed them into highly-influential fashion icons of their generation and has earned them status as household names.
In between the series’ filming, Lively also participated in other projects, including “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee” (2009), “The Town” (2010), “Green Lantern” (2011), and “Savage” (2012). Post-Gossip Girl, the actress took a three-year hiatus from the industry. Then in 2015, she returned to the big screen with “The Age of Adaline,” which gained her numerous award nominations. Lively also starred in the one-woman feature titled “The Shallows” and box-office hit “A Simple Favor.”
In her upcoming project, she will be giving life to Lily Bloom, the highly-anticipated character adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel “It Ends With Us.”
“#BookTok made me read it.”
Colleen Hoover books have been favorites on the shelves, especially her titles “Verity, “Ugly Love,” “Reminders of Him,” and “November 9” which have achieved huge popularity. But arguably, her most successful one would be “It Ends With Us.” And that’s all thanks to the impact of the #BookTok community, the side of TikTok where readers share their favorite covers from the classics to the underrated.
“It Ends With Us” was first published in 2016, sold over a million copies in 2019, and then found renewed fame and a huge following in 2021 after being one of the most-recommended books on TikTok. In January 2022, it debuted at number one on The New York Times bestseller list. It then went on to close the year as the top-selling print book. And now, it’s being adapted into a film.
“It Ends With Us” Plot
The romance novel follows the story of a 23-year-old small-town girl named Lily Bloom. Lily hasn’t had it easy in life, but she never stopped working hard to achieve a life of success. She graduates college, moves to Boston, and starts her own flower shop. Then she meets the handsome and stubborn neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid. And it seems like everything is finally falling into place. But her too-good-to-be-true life slowly falls apart, and she’s questioning everything, especially her relationship with Ryle. With that, memories of her old love – Atlas Corrigan – ‘her kindred spirit, her protector’ comes flooding back. And when Atlas comes back into her life, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened to crumble down.
The Film Adaptation
In 2019, actor Justin Baldoni known for his role as Rafael in the hit series Jane the Virgin, optioned the book for an adaptation to be produced through his banner, Wayfarer Studios (with the help of Sony Pictures). In 2022, Baldoni, along with Hoover, opened an application for die-hard fans to be part of a special table reading session. Because, as Baldoni said, they’re making the film for the fans. Then last January 2o23, Blake Lively was cast as Lily Bloom. Baldoni was also confirmed to play the role of Ryle Kincaid. Aside from the two, Sony Pictures has not dropped any more names yet for the “It Ends With Us” movie cast.
Aside from producing the film and playing a role in it, Baldoni is also set to direct it. His previous directorial credits include “Five Feet Apart” and “Clouds.” Lively and Hoover are also co-producing the film along with Steve Sarowitz and Andrew Calof. Christy Hall, co-creator, writer, and executive producer of coming-of-age Black comedy I Am Not Okay With This, will write the screenplay and also share production credits.
As of writing, the Colleen Hoover movie is currently in development, and according to sources, hasn’t started filming yet. So official posters, teasers, and trailers may come later this year. That is, Lively has just recently given birth to her fourth kid with “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds. She made a subtle announcement about it on Super Bowl Sunday when she shared a photo of herself without the baby bump.
Lively hasn’t shared anything yet about her upcoming film except for an Instagram story, but maybe we’ll get some behind-the-scenes and other sneak peeks once filming starts. But for now, we wait.
“It Starts With Us”
After the major success of “It Ends With Us,” Colleen Hoover followed up with a sequel, “It Starts With Us,” published on October 18, 2022. This explores the new chapter of Lily’s life and how she will navigate through the changes and fan favorite Atlas’ perspective and side of the story.
Want to stay updated with “It Ends With Us” movie? Follow Justin Baldoni on TikTok so you’ll get the freshest news straight from the source.