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'Bad casting': Fans fume after Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni roped in for 'It Ends With Us' adaptation

Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios are in close contact with author Colleen Hoover, who is also serving as a consultant for the movie

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are collaborating very soon for a new romantic movie adapted from the works of a bestselling author. Sony Pictures is adapting Colleen Hoover’s bestselling romance novel 'It Ends With Us' which was originally published in 2016. Baldoni is directing the movie and is the executive producer under the banner of his production company Wayfarer Studios. He is co-financing the project as well. Livley will also serve as an executive producer. However, the internet is not happy with the casting of the movie based on a popular novel.

The news was confirmed by Variety which also mentions that Steve Sarowitz and Andrew Calof will serve as the executive producers for this novel adaptation. Christy Hall, known for 'I Am Not Okay With This', is behind the screenplay and is a producer as well. No commitment or release date for the project has been announced yet. It only makes sense that Colleen Hoover's novel is being adapted as she is the highest-selling novelist in the US at the time of writing. Hoover has written five of the top 10 bestselling books of any genre this past year and has sold over 20 million books. Moreover, 'It Ends With Us' has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 90 weeks. The outlet reported that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios are in close contact with Hoover, who is also serving as a consultant for the film.

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Justin Baldoni's acting career

For those unaware, Justin Baldoni is an actor and filmmaker, who is best known for portraying Rafael Solano on The CW satirical romantic dramedy 'Jane the Virgin'. He has also received praise for directing films like 'Five Feet Apart' and 'Clouds' which came out in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Medford, Oregon, Baldoni started his career by writing and directing music videos. He dropped his first music video project in 2008 which received the 'Audience Choice Award' at Dawn Breakers International Film Festival. His career took off after he created a digital documentary series titled 'My Last Days' in 2012. It soon became the most streamed series and the second season landed on CW. 

What is the plot of 'It Ends With Us'?

Originating from the beautiful mind of Hoover, 'It Ends With Us' finds Lily, a small-town girl, in Boston with hopes of setting up her business. Lily soon finds herself smitten by neurosurgeon Ryle and a spark can be felt. However, Ryle's "complete aversion to relationships is disturbing," as per the book. The description reads, "Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his ‘no dating’ rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened."

'Not how I pictured lily and Ryle'

Disappointed with the casting, one social media user wrote, "I haven’t even read this and I know it’s bad casting." Another user said, "LMAO lily is supposed to be 23 and is justin supposed to be atlas???? sadie sink was RIGHT THERE." One more user tweeted, "Totally not how I pictured lily and Ryle."

Another user wrote, "Thee blake lively deserves to be cast in SERIOUS films at this point like bffr." Another user tweeted, "Blake should be working on a simple favor 2. not a c*lleen h**ver screen adaptation."

One user thinks Abigal Cowen is the right choice for the role and said, "Please tell me this is fake i’m having a heart attack right now!!! she was literally right there having no job after winx was cancelled and they casted someone else?!!"

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