Blake Lively's Controversial Casting and Production Halt in It Ends With Us: Exclusive Insider Insights

In a recent interview with Today's Jenna Bush Hager, Colleen Hoover responded to the backlash surrounding the casting choices for the film adaptation of It Ends With Us. Defending the decision to cast Blake Lively as Lily Bloom and Justin Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid, Hoover explained that she intentionally chose actors who were older than their characters. This decision was made to rectify a mistake she made while writing the novel.

"Back when I wrote 'It Ends With Us,' the new adult (genre) was incredibly popular. I focused on college-age characters as that was what my contract required. However, I mistakenly portrayed Lily as being very young without realizing that neurosurgeons undergo extensive schooling for around 50 years. It's highly improbable to have a neurosurgeon in their twenties. As the movie production progressed, I realized my mistake and decided to age the characters appropriately. So, the responsibility for this oversight falls entirely on me."

In It Ends With Us, Lily is intended to be 23 years old, while Lively, who is presently 35, is more than ten years older. Persuading the audience that she is still in her early 20s, as portrayed in the novel, has become challenging. However, with Hoover's confirmation that the characters in the It Ends With Us movie have purposely been aged, fans might find it easier to understand the casting choices.

In addition to addressing her writing error, casting Lively in the It Ends With Us film also offers marketing advantages for the project. While there has been some backlash from book readers regarding her portrayal of Lily, it cannot be denied that her involvement greatly enhances awareness for both the film and the book it is based on. Lively's extensive acting experience, including her roles as Serena in Gossip Girl and the lead character in The Age of Adaline, as well as her immense popularity as a celebrity, make her highly marketable. Despite the pause in production for It Ends With Us, it is important to clarify that this is not due to the recent criticism, but rather a result of the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, wherein writers are advocating for fair compensation for their work. Consequently, despite some readers' less-than-enthusiastic response to the casting, the project continues to move forward.

Source: Today