Justin Baldoni Addresses Missing Favourite Ends in It Ends With Us and On Set Feud With Blake Lively

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Justin Baldoni, the director and star of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us, has acknowledged that some beloved moments from the book didn’t make it into the movie. In a recent promotional video shared on the official It Ends With Us Instagram page on August 23, Baldoni, who plays the character Ryle Kincaid, reassured fans that he made efforts to honor those special moments in subtle ways throughout the film.

One particular omission that Baldoni addressed was the phrase “just keep swimming,” a significant recurring quote in the novel between the characters Lily (played by Blake Lively) and Atlas (played by Brandon Sklenar). This phrase, originally from the animated film Finding Nemo, held deep meaning for the characters in the book. However, it didn’t make the final cut of the film’s dialogue.

“Something that I know so many fans love from the book that didn’t make it in the movie was the phrase ‘just keep swimming’ that Lily and Atlas shared over the course of the book,” Baldoni, 40, explained in the video. To compensate for this, Baldoni mentioned that fans should keep an eye out for a poster in Lily’s bedroom that serves as a nod to the phrase. “I’m not gonna say what it’s [a poster] of, but you’ll see a little homage to maybe the movie or the saying, if you will,” he teased.

Baldoni also revealed that there are other hidden Easter eggs related to the phrase “just keep swimming” scattered throughout the film. He hinted at a stuffed animal that fans might easily miss if they aren’t paying close attention. Additionally, during the scene where Lily reconnects with Atlas at the restaurant Root (renamed from Bibs in the book), there’s a framed picture of a fish with a quote about swimming forward, subtly referencing the phrase.

“I love finding a way to infuse little Easter eggs into the film because of course we can’t put everything from the book into the movie,” Baldoni explained, emphasizing his commitment to honoring the source material despite the limitations of the film format.

It Ends With Us is a powerful story that delves into the complexities of an abusive relationship, inspired by Hoover’s own family history. Baldoni opened up to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month about the emotional toll of portraying such intense subject matter.

“There were a lot of times where I would have to go privately into a room and just cry or shake it out and try to get him out of me and that energy out of me,” he shared. “Because it’s too real. There are too many people that are the real-life Lily Blooms of the world that have to deal with that every single day, and I wanted it to be as real as possible and yet it was very hard to shoot those scenes.”

In addition to the on-screen intensity, the film reportedly faced behind-the-scenes challenges as well. According to a source who spoke exclusively earlier this month, there were tensions on set between “team Blake” and “team Justin.”

The insider revealed that the creative differences between Lively, who also served as an executive producer, and Baldoni led to a strained working relationship. “Justin was made to feel that his vision wasn’t as important,” the source claimed. However, another insider defended Lively’s involvement, stating that “any changes or input by Blake was to create the best film possible and honor the book.”

Despite these challenges, It Ends With Us has made its way to theaters, offering fans of the novel a cinematic experience that captures the essence of Hoover’s story, even if not every detail made it to the screen. For those who cherished the book, Baldoni’s hidden nods and Easter eggs in the film may offer some comfort as they experience the adaptation.