The highly anticipated premiere of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, *It Ends With Us*, has been anything but straightforward. Instead of celebratory red carpets and enthusiastic interviews, a cloud of intrigue hangs over the production, fueled by the conspicuous absence of director Justin Baldoni from many promotional events. This has sparked a flurry of online speculation and fan theories, transforming the movie’s release into a captivating Hollywood mystery.
While stars like Blake Lively and numerous cast members walked the red carpet, Baldoni’s absence is striking. Other attendees included Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, the latter’s presence particularly noteworthy given the swirling rumors. Even more telling is the lack of social media engagement from key figures. While Liz Plank, Baldoni’s podcast co-host, attended the premiere, her Instagram posts conspicuously omitted Baldoni, and their podcast, *Man Enough*, has been silent since mid-June. This lack of interaction is not only curious but fuels the narrative of a potential rift within the production team.
Adding fuel to the fire are the noticeably evasive responses given by some cast members during interviews. When asked about her experience working with Baldoni as both director and co-star, Jenny Slate sidestepped the question, highlighting the difficulty of juggling both roles. Blake Lively’s interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, which went viral on TikTok, proved equally intriguing. Instead of addressing the dynamics between her and Baldoni onscreen, Lively focused solely on the emotional complexities of the character Ryle and the novel’s enduring appeal, conspicuously omitting any mention of her director. Multiple viewers noted the curious omission, leading to widespread speculation on social media.
The most significant development, however, revolves around Ryan Reynolds’ unexpected involvement. Lively recently revealed on E! News that Reynolds, her husband and a co-executive producer on the project, penned a crucial scene: the iconic rooftop scene. This revelation ignited a firestorm of fan theories suggesting a possible power struggle. The suggestion that Reynolds, and by extension Lively, might have exerted significant creative control over the film, potentially to Baldoni’s detriment, has become a dominant narrative on social media platforms like TikTok.
Pop culture TikToker Arianna Lillie eloquently summarized the prevailing sentiment in a recent video: “You literally can’t convince me that Ryan Reynolds isn’t the reason for all this Justin Baldoni/ *It Ends With Us* drama, and I feel like Justin doesn’t want anything to do with the drama, and for that reason has chosen a step back from the PR events leading up to the movie.” This statement encapsulates the growing suspicion that a behind-the-scenes conflict might be responsible for the unusual silence surrounding the film’s release. The situation continues to evolve, leaving audiences eagerly awaiting further developments and an explanation to what seems like a carefully constructed narrative of silence, carefully crafted responses, and perhaps a significant power struggle in the heart of Hollywood. The mystery surrounding *It Ends With Us* is far from over; it’s only just begun.
