Why Justin Baldoni Isn't Worried About the 'It Ends With Us' Age Controversy

Since the announcement of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni as the leads in the film adaptation of It Ends With Us, some fans of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 romance novel have voiced concerns about the age differences between the actors and their characters. Lively, at 36, is 13 years older than the book's protagonist Lily, while Baldoni, at 40, is 10 years older than his character Ryle. Despite this, Baldoni, who also directs the film, remained unaffected by the criticism.

Baldoni explains to Entertainment Weekly that the online chatter about the age differences is expected and not troubling. He views the attention as a positive sign, suggesting that if no one was talking about the adaptation, that would be a bigger issue.

It Ends With Us focuses on Lily, who, after overcoming a traumatic childhood with an abusive father, starts a new life in Boston. As she works towards opening her own flower shop, she falls for Ryle, a charming neurosurgeon whose abusive behavior complicates her life. The story also involves Lily’s childhood love, Atlas (played by Brandon Sklenar), who reappears and disrupts her life.

Baldoni, inspired by the book, felt that aging the characters was necessary to convey the story’s universal themes. He wanted to reach a broader audience by featuring Lively, whom he believes will resonate with women of all ages. He chose Isabela Ferrer to play young Lily in flashbacks to avoid having Lively portray both the teenage and adult versions of the character.

Baldoni preferred not to have Lively play a younger version of Lily to maintain the authenticity of the character’s different life stages. He felt that having two distinct actors would provide a more genuine portrayal of Lily's development over time.

Baldoni finds the discussion around the casting to be exciting and anticipates that viewers will understand the creative decisions once they see the film. He also notes that Hoover herself acknowledged that the age of Ryle in the book didn't quite fit his career timeline and that the adaptation aligns with her original vision of aging the characters.

The film, set to release on August 9, features Lively in what Baldoni believes is her best performance yet. He recalls the joy Hoover expressed upon learning that Lively would play Lily, and he’s confident that the film will address and surpass any initial concerns.