Colleen Hoover Fans are Enraged…
Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni are set to star in the upcoming adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us.
Colleen Hoover’s - 'It Ends With Us'. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the women in my life, it’s that you never mess with their books. Especially when it comes to adapting them into movies. Nothing will sink a movie faster than its original fan base spewing hatred about the creative decisions before the movie is even released. It appears that the recent announcement regarding Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us has resulted in said backlash.
Published in 2016, the book follows Lily Bloom who is starting her life after college. She soon finds herself falling for a handsome but overbearing neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid. As the book progresses, it documents the turbulent marriage of Lily and Ryle, as her first love, Atlas Corrigan, comes back into their lives.
Not too long after it was first published It Ends With Us reached the top of the bestseller list. Eventually gaining even more steam via TikTok. Soon becoming a “BookTok” phenomenon, reaching more than 2 billion views on Hoover’s TikTok hashtag.
“In January 2023 Hoover held the top three spots on the New York Times paperback fiction bestseller list with It Ends With Us, the sequel, It Starts With Us, and her unrelated thriller, Verity. As of January 28, It Ends With Us has held its spot as a bestseller for 90 weeks.”
As with any popular book, it’s only a matter of time before a studio steps in and tries to capitalize on that popularity via the big screen. And in 2019, Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios did just that by optioning the book. Recently, it was announced that Balodni is set to direct the upcoming adaptation.
Baldoni previously starred on CW’s Jane the Virgin, and since then has moved to behind-the-camera work with films such as Clouds and Five Feet Apart. Among other directing and producing work. Also, he hosts a podcast (cause who in Hollywood doesn’t) called The Man Enough Podcast, which examines masculinity.
Cast in the role of Lily is none other than Blake Lively. Coming off hot from her directorial debut of Taylor Swift’s 2021 music video “I Bet You Think About Me.” It seems that Lively is itching to get back to work as she has also signed on to reprise her role in the upcoming sequel to A Simple Favor.
Hoover and Lively are set to be executive producers along with Baldoni on behalf of Wayfare Studios, who is also co-financing the film. So it seems Hoover has her hands deep in this adaptation, which makes the discontent with her fans and the casting even more confounding.
Left: Blake Lively / Right: Justin Baldoni At face value, no problem here right? Well, those fans that originally blew up the book on TikTok are not happy with the casting decisions. Complaints have ranged from their age to style.
Most fans argue that Baldoni’s “vibe” doesn't match the character. Ryle is supposed to be a buttoned-up doctor, not a rough grizzly guy as Baldoni appears. Most fans think he would be a better fit playing Atlas since he’s a rough / grungier character. Fans are alleging that collusion occurred as Baldoni is directing the film and has carte blanche over casting decisions.
Wayfarer Studios and Baldoni, I’m going to give you a map to success with the fans. With the help of my girlfriend, I’ve compiled the ideal casting choices desired by the “BookTok” fans.
Tik Tok Casting
Ryle - Theo James
Atlas - Dylan O'Brien
Young Atlas - Christopher Briney
Lily - Abigail Cowen
Young Lily - Sadie Sink
Alyssa (Ryles Sister) - Lily Collins
Marshall (Alyssa’s husband & Ryle’s Bff) - Miles Teller
Only time will tell if the movie pans out in favor of the fans or goes off the rails. Wayfare Studios better take notice because as I’ve had to learn, hell has no fury like a women’s book scorn.
Thanks for reading! Check out more articles and our social media below:
