The new ‘Don’t Worry Darling?’ ‘It Ends with Us’ Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni feud and set drama rumors swirl

nypost.com:

tearjerker romantic drama “It Ends with Us” hits theaters, rumors of behind-the-scenes cast drama threaten to overshadow the movie — similar to the infamous press tour drama for Olivia Wilde’s 2022 movie “Don’t Worry Darling.” Here’s everything to know about what’s going on with Lively and Justin Baldoni, who was mysteriously absent from premiere photos with the rest of the cast despite attending the event. “It Ends with Us” is a romantic drama about an abusive relationship, starring Lively, 36, “Jane The Virgin” star Baldoni, 40 (who also directed the movie), Jenny Slate and Brandon Sklenar.

It’s based on a best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover. The book already sparked controversy even before the movie. When a planned coloring book, which tied into the film, was announced in 2023, there was a backlash to the idea of releasing such a whimsical product for a story about domestic violence. “Colleen Hoover making a coloring book about a book (that again is not a romance) that’s central story is domestic violence is so beyond tone deaf and harmful.

What a trash thing to do. From top to bottom. LIKE WHO APPROVED THAT,” one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter. That platform and TikTok were flooded with similar sentiments. “The coloring book was developed with Lily’s strength in mind, but I can absolutely see how this was tone-deaf,” Hoover said in a 2023 Instagram story, shortly after the coloring book project was announced and canceled.Lily is the main character, played by Lively in the film. “I hear you guys and I agree with you.

No excuses. No finger pointing,” Hoover continued. “I have contacted the publisher to let them know I would prefer we don’t move forward with it.