The It Ends With Us film sequel is on the horizon for Colleen Hoover fans, as Justin Baldoni has the rights to Hoover’s It Starts With Us, the sequel to her 2016 novel. However, Baldoni may not be on board to direct the second film in this movie universe, as he mentioned that there are better people for the job, hinting at Blake Lively as a potential director. Reports have suggested that there was a creative struggle between Baldoni and Lively during the filming of the first movie, which may impact their working relationship moving forward.
In December 2024, TMZ reported that Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment, claiming his behavior during filming caused severe emotional distress. Baldoni’s lawyer denied the allegations, calling them completely false and outrageous. The situation between the two actors seems to have escalated as they have both taken legal action against each other. It was also reported that Lively was attempting to repair her negative reputation by making these claims against Baldoni.
It Ends With Us tells the story of Lily, a flower shop owner in an abusive relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle. The second book, It Starts With Us, continues Lily’s story, this time with Atlas, a homeless man from her past. The sequel takes place nearly one year after the first book’s conclusion, showing Lily as a mother trying to navigate coparenting with Ryle while reconnecting romantically with Atlas. Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios owns the rights to the second book, indicating that a film adaptation may be in the works.
Screenwriter Christy Hall hinted that she would be interested in adapting any of Colleen Hoover’s materials, suggesting that the rights to Hoover’s works are valuable in Hollywood. While it remains uncertain whether It Starts With Us will become a movie, there is interest in the industry to work with Hoover’s materials. Although Baldoni has not made any definitive plans to direct a possible sequel, he has expressed a desire to take a break and focus on other upcoming projects, such as executive producing Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, Eleanor the Great.
The future of the It Starts With Us film remains uncertain, as potential conflicts between the actors and the legal action taken by Lively against Baldoni could impact the production. However, with the rights to the second book in Baldoni’s possession and interest from industry professionals, there is a possibility that the sequel could come to fruition. Fans of Colleen Hoover’s work will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds and whether the It Ends With Us film universe will continue with a sequel.
