Colleen Hoover, the author of the bestselling novel It Ends With Us, has spoken out in support of Blake Lively’s casting as the protagonist Lily Bloom in the upcoming film adaptation.
The novel, which was published in 2016, has received critical acclaim and commercial success, with over a million copies sold worldwide and translations in 20 languages. The film version is directed by and co-stars Justin Baldoni, who plays Ryle Kincaid, the abusive partner of Lily. The production began in May in New Jersey.
The casting of Lively and Baldoni sparked controversy among some fans, who pointed out that the actors are much older than the characters they portray.
Hoover addressed the criticisms in a recent interview with Today’s Jenna Bush Hager, where she revealed that the decision to age the cast was intentional and based on a flaw she made while writing the novel. Here is her full statement:
“Back when I wrote ‘It Ends With Us,’ the new adult (genre) was very popular. You were writing college-age characters. That’s what I was contracted to do. I made Lily very young. I didn’t know that neurosurgeons went to school for 50 years. There’s not a 20-something neurosurgeon. As I started making this movie, I’m like, we need to age them out, because I messed up. So that’s my fault.”
To provide some background, the novel depicts Lily as a 23-year-old woman. However, Lively is 35 years old, which creates a noticeable age gap. It may be challenging to convince the audience that she is in her early 20s as in the novel.
With Hoover’s explanation that they have deliberately aged the characters in the film adaptation, fans may be more receptive to the casting decisions.
Apart from rectifying her writing error, choosing Lively for the film adaptation also has advantages in terms of promoting the project. Despite the criticism from book fans about her role as Lily, it is undeniable that her presence helps in increasing the visibility of the project and the novel it is based on.
Lively has a varied acting career, starring as Serena in the original Gossip Girl and the main character in The Age of Adaline. She is also one of the most popular celebrities at present, which means that she has high appeal.
The production of It Ends With Us is currently on hold, but contrary to the speculation circulating, it is not because of the negative feedback that it has received so far.
Instead, it is due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, where writers are demanding fair compensation for their work. Therefore, despite book fans’ unfavorable reaction to the film’s casting, the project is still proceeding.
About It Ends With Us
It Ends with Us is an upcoming American romance film directed by Justin Baldoni and written by Christy Hall, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover. It stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni as Lily Blood and Ryan Kincaid.
The film is still in production and no official release date has been announced it. The film follows Lily, a young woman who grew up in an abusive home, falls in love with Ryle, a charming surgeon who turns out to be abusive as well. She struggles to break free from the cycle of violence and find her true self.
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