Summary
- Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s feud complicates potential sequel “It Starts With Us” production.
- Sony Pictures may distribute a follow-up, but key creatives must resolve conflicts for it to happen.
- Vinciquerra praised working with Lively hinting at more collaborations, leaving Baldoni unmentioned.
As a seasoned moviegoer who has witnessed countless Hollywood dramas unfold both on and off screen, I find myself intrigued by this latest saga involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s feud over the potential sequel to “It Ends With Us.”
If you’re Sony Pictures, given that your recent movie has earned over $180 million worldwide on a budget of only $25 million, it seems like an obvious choice to invest in a sequel. This is even more so when you already possess the original material for the follow-up. However, for the novel “It Ends With Us,” adapting its sequel, “It Starts With Us,” could potentially be challenging due to creative disagreements between your lead actress and producer, and the individual who acquired the film rights.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, keeping the film adaptation of “It Starts With Us” moving forward could prove challenging if lead actress and producer Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni persist in their ongoing feud. Their characters, Lily Bloom and Ryle Kincaid, are central to the sequel novel, but complicating matters is the fact that Baldoni’s company, Wayfarer Studios, secured the rights to Colleen Hoover’s books five years ago. This means that Wayfarer also holds the rights to “It Starts With Us” and a sequel involving both Baldoni’s participation and Lively’s would require cooperation from both parties.
Justin Baldoni Doesn’t Have to Direct It Starts With Us
I myself don’t need to be the leading actor or director for “It Starts With Us”. In fact, I even proposed, perhaps with a hint of subtle suggestion, that Rachel Lively should direct the sequel instead. While I might not actively participate in both roles, given my involvement with Wayfarer Studios alongside Steve Sarowitz and Jamey Heath, I would still contribute to the production of a sequel in some fashion. Sony Pictures holds the distribution rights for a follow-up, but the tension between myself and Lively could potentially complicate matters if they wish to keep key creative figures on board.
It appears that the studio has decided to collaborate with Blake Lively following positive statements from Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra about working with her and the women associated with the project. Vinciquerra expressed a strong interest in making 12 more films with Lively, suggesting either a harmonious relationship or a strategic move towards the more prominent star due to business considerations. Lively has had a fairly consistent film career, but her latest movie, “The Rhythm Section,” underperformed at the box office. However, her films have generally been financially successful since her time on “Gossip Girl,” with “It Ends With Us” being her most profitable project to date. Interestingly, Vinciquerra failed to mention Lively’s co-star in “It Ends With Us,” Michael Baldoni, during his praise for the team.
The disagreement between Lively and Baldoni seems to deepen as more information surfaces about their issues. What started as a difference of opinion during a press tour, has grown into something much bigger. Recently, Lively has faced criticism over her approach to promoting the movie, with some claiming the marketing was too superficial given the film’s serious themes of domestic abuse. This backlash has also led to people digging up old interviews with Lively that could be perceived negatively. Meanwhile, Baldoni has been accused of being challenging to work with, and it appears that their conflict goes back at least a year, with Lively preferring not to act alongside Baldoni again when filming resumed in 2023 following the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. This tension carried over to reshoots, resulting in two different versions of the movie being produced – one favored by Baldoni, and another preferred by Lively. According to reports, it’s Lively’s cut that is currently being shown in cinemas across the country.
As a fan, I can’t help but observe that the current turmoil might just smooth over when it comes to the negotiations for the sequel, given that we’re in the world of filmmaking, where the key word is “commerce.” Both parties may realize the substantial profits up for grabs and decide to set aside their disagreements. For the time being, though, this intriguing saga will unfold, fueling ticket sales, and most likely ensuring a robust reception on streaming and physical platforms.
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2024-08-22 00:35