Despite Controversy Surrounding Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us And It’s Widely Different Critics And Audience Scores, Here’s Why I’m Still Hoping For A Sequel

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As a die-hard fan of Colleen Hoover’s work and someone who has lived through the rollercoaster that was the release of “It Ends With Us”, I can confidently say it’s high time for its sequel, “It Starts With Us”, to grace our screens. The alleged drama surrounding the first movie may have been juicier than a tabloid headline, but let’s face it – we all know gossip sells!

Ever since It Ends With Us was slated for release in 2024, it’s been quite the cinematic journey. The movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s acclaimed yet contentious novel stirred up its fair share of drama and mixed reviews. Yet, many viewers have developed a soft spot for it, as evidenced by its box office success. Given this context, I’d be thrilled if they would consider turning the sequel, It Starts With Us, into a film too.

It’s Hard To Forget The Viral Alleged It Ends With Us Drama

When the movie was released, there was a lot of talk on social media about potential conflicts between Blake Lively, the lead actress playing Lily, and both the director and co-star Justin Baldoni from the film, which quickly became very popular.

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It Ends With Us: 10 Big Differences Between The Colleen Hoover Book And The Movie

There was a lot of speculation surrounding Baldoni’s absence from photos with other cast members at the premiere. There were whispers about Ryan Reynolds allegedly rewriting a crucial scene (apparently without screenwriter Christy Hall’s knowledge), followed by reports of a second version of the film being produced, and many other intriguing tidbits. This stirred up quite a buzz online for several weeks, with new rumors spreading rapidly.

Significantly, Lively and Baldoni have yet to speak publicly about the matter, but it’s been reported that the “Gossip Girl” star seemed “quite taken aback” by the plot development. The only individual who has addressed the rumors is Brandon Sklenar, who portrayed Atlas. Despite this, there are numerous unanswered questions regarding what transpired off-screen, and given the divided reaction the film received, it doesn’t present a favorable image.

It Ends With Us Got Seriously Mixed Reactions From Critics And Audiences

In my gaming world, I’d say: “Just as I mentioned in my review, ‘It Ends With Us’ film is a faithful representation of the book it’s based on, carrying both its strengths and weaknesses. The critical response to this Blake Lively movie has been quite divided, as evident by its 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.

The tone is a hard one to balance, as it’s a romance telling the story of an abusive relationship and generational trauma. On top of that, there’s also a hint of second-chance romance mixed in. All together, that makes for a tough story to pull off.

Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film resonated strongly with audiences. It boasts a 90% rating on the Popcornmeter, based on more than 5,000 fan reviews. I can confirm this audience adoration firsthand. During my theater visit for It Ends With Us, I found myself seated next to two women unfamiliar with the storyline. Before the film started, I shared that I had previously watched it at a press screening, and we exchanged a few words about what was coming up. After the movie ended, they looked at me with teary eyes, expressing their deep appreciation for the film.

Not only was the theatrical run of “It Ends With Us” a hit, earning an astounding $350.8 million globally and $148.5 million in the US alone, on a budget of just $25 million. This goes to show that fans were eager to support this film despite its dramatic content. Given my personal experience with both the books and the box office success, I firmly believe that a sequel titled “It Starts With Us” should be produced.

I’d Like To See Them Make It Starts With Us

After considering all aspects, I firmly believe that they ought to publish “It Starts With Us”. This novel continues where its predecessor ended, finding Lily and Atlas crossing paths again, years after her split with Ryle. The story concentrates on their journey towards healing and nurturing their relationship.

Reflecting on it personally, this tale has a delightful charm that delves into Lily’s journey post her relationship with Ryle, and the renewal of her bond with Atlas. It serves as an engaging continuation from the initial narrative, offering a deeper exploration of Lily and Atlas in their mature years. I firmly believe it could make for a captivating film experience.

To date, although nothing has been officially confirmed, Justin Baldoni has suggested that Blake Lively could make an excellent director for the project and hinted at his willingness to collaborate with her and Ryan Reynolds again if given the opportunity. Additionally, while A Simple Favor’s actress hasn’t expressed interest in a sequel, Brandon Sklenar has expressed enthusiasm about reprising his role as Atlas. This is exciting news because his character will have a larger part in the potential sequel.

To me, “It Starts With Us” surpassed the first book, and it concluded Lily’s tale beautifully.

I’m crossing my fingers that we’ll eventually watch this on-screen, with fewer rumors about behind-the-scenes turmoil. In the interim, you can now stream “It Ends With Us” on Netflix if you have a subscription, and grab both the book it’s based on and its sequel novel, “It Starts With Us,” at any bookstore.

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2024-12-10 23:08