New Blake Lively movie It Ends With Us has hit cinemas (and headlines) hard. The movie tells the story of Lily (Blake Lively) who falls in love with “complicated” neurosurgeon Ryle (played by Justin), whose relationship takes a dark turn when Lyle becomes physically abusive.
Significantly, fans are feeling things about the way that the film ends – particularly in comparison to how the ending of the book it was adapted from, written by Coleen Hoover.
Here, we explain the It Ends With Us ending.
What is the It Ends With Us ending and how does it deviate from Colleen Hoover’s book?
So… the way that the movie ends is significantly different to the way the book ends. Justin Baldoni, who plays Ryle and also directed the film has opened about this decision in an interview with The Wrap.
“In the original draft, we had a scene in the epilogue where we see Ryle dropping off their child to Lily, and they have a short conversation. It was written in a way that showed that they’ve overcome a lot over the last two years,” he said.
Sony Pictures
But, after consultation with No More, a non-profit advocacy group that works to raise awareness around and end sexual and domestic violence, they decided to go with a different ending. Justin himself admitted that also wasn’t comfortable with using the original ending for the movie.
“We were trying to find a way to make it work, to honour the book, but too much had to be done in such a short window to explain how they could possibly be co-parenting,” he explained.
Instead, the film behind the team, including Justin, opted to go for a different ending for the film. He explained that it was decided that the “best ending for Ryle was to look at his wife and kid, and the life that he could have had, the life that he blew up, and to walk out the door and for us not see him again.”
“That was, for me, what felt the best in adapting the book and turning into a film is to say bye to him there,” he said.
It Ends With Us is in cinemas now.