It Ends With Us just hit cinemas but there’s one sequel-shaped question on everyone’s lips: will we get a movie adaptation for It Starts With Us — Colleen Hoover‘s follow up novel to It Ends With Us?
Mentions of It Starts With Us have definitely been happening on the red carpets for the It Ends With Us movie but, as of right now, it hasn’t officially been green lit. In fact, it’s looking murkier than ever considering all the supposed beef between leads Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
So what is Colleen and the It Ends With Us crew saying about the sequel? Here’s what you missed while trying to dissect the rumoured It Ends With Us drama.
Does It Ends With Us have a sequel?
Colleen’s It Ends With Us book has a sequel called It Starts With Us.
While It Ends With Us follows the story of Lily Bloom trying to navigate a relationship that becomes abusive, It Starts With Us picks up where the last novel ended and focuses on Lily’s relationship with Atlas. (I’d go into further detail, but I don’t want to invite any spoiler backlash!)
The It Ends With Us book was released in 2016 and It Starts With Us came out in 2022.
Justin, It Ends With Us director and lead actor, optioned the first novel back in 2019 — before It Starts With Us was even published.
Will there be an It Starts With Us movie?
A sequel is an obvious decision based on the huge box office success of It Ends With Us.
While in early August it appeared that no one had secured the rights for the It Starts With Us movie, The Hollywood Reporter is now reporting that Justin and Wayfarer Studios do have the rights for the sequel film.
If there was to be an It Ends With Us sequel off the back of the film’s success, it would be an obvious decision to keep the original cast including Blake as Lily, Justin as Ryle Kincaid, Brandon Sklenar as Atlas Corrigan and Jenny Slate as Alyssa Kincaid.
That being said, there have definitely been sequels that have deviated from the original casting (albeit usually awful).
But even if Justin was no longer in the role of Ryle or as the film director, a sequel involving Blake would mean the pair would still need to work together in some capacity. Because of this, there have been doubts over whether or not the film will go ahead.
What has Justin Baldoni said about an It Ends With Us Sequel?
Justin told Entertainment Tonight that he believes someone else should direct the sequel.
“I think that there are better people for that one,” he said. “I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct, that’s what I think.”
When asked whether or not he’d spoken to Colleen or Blake about a sequel, Justin admitted that he hadn’t.
“I haven’t. I have no idea what that story would be,” Baldoni told TV Insider at a press junket, noting that he’s trying to stay in the present.
“I’m just kind of doing my best to take this all in because it’s been five years to even get us here. So I can’t even fathom another story yet, but I’m so happy that fans love it and that she did it.”
What has Colleen Hover said about an It Starts With Us movie?
Author Colleen has definitely entertained the idea of a movie sequel.
“I think whoever decides to take charge of the next one would do it justice,” she told ET.
“I think they’re all in it for the right reasons, so I think that will be exciting. But it’s a lot of people to get the same schedules together again, so we’ll see.”
In regards to Blake coming on as director, the author said she’d “absolutely” be into that.
Considering It Ends With Us is all anyone’s talking about right now — and considering a lot of people want to see more of Atlas — we think a sequel could definitely be on the cards.
It Ends With Us is now in cinemas.
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