Blake Lively is charting a new course with her latest film, It Ends With Us, proving she’s far from just a glamorous face from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Gossip Girl.
In It Ends With Us, the actress, 36, dives into a sea of shadows, portraying Lily Bloom, a woman with a troubled past who relocates to Boston and encounters Ryle Kincaid, played by Jane the Virgin star Justin Baldoni. Note that the latter also wears the director’s hat.
The film is adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, and Lively’s role is anything but a walk in the park. Moreover, it seems the drama extends beyond the screen. The mother of four recently spilled the beans on a behind-the-scenes controversy that has fans talking.
Despite being “begged” to reconsider, Ryan Reynolds’ wife fought tooth and nail to keep a particular decision in the film. The decision in question involves a Lana Del Rey song (Cherry) that Lively was adamant about including in It Ends With Us.
It Ends With Us: Understanding Blake Lively’s Refusal to Cut the Song
As the saying goes, sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet – even if it means ruffling a few feathers along the way. And in the world of film, where every frame and soundtrack can become a battleground of creative vision, It Ends With Us is no exception.
Blake Lively recently found herself in hot water once again. This time, it’s not about her performance but a contentious choice behind the scenes that has stirred up quite the tempest.
The actress revealed a juicy behind-the-scenes detail that has left many baffled. Despite being “begged” by the film’s team to yank a particular decision, Lively stood her ground, insisting that it remain intact.
The bone of contention? Lana Del Rey’s hauntingly atmospheric track Cherry. The song was set to make its entrance; it continues to play through a sweeping cityscape and lingers as other characters share life-changing news. However, not everyone was on the same page regarding its inclusion.
During an interview with Hits Radio UK (via Daily Mail), Lively opened up about the kerfuffle, noting:
I’m not supposed to be talking about this. They begged me to take that movie out – that song out of the movie. They felt like it was, like, too charged and heavy and things are still good with Ryle at that point so you don’t wanna feel that charge.
It seems the team felt the song might pour salt into wounds that weren’t yet fully exposed, potentially undermining the film’s emotional journey. And it appears fans are on the same page, believing the song missed the mark. One user voiced their disappointment, saying (The Tab):
Cherry was definitely not the right tune, especially considering Lana’s been criticized for romanticizing abuse in her music, which only fuels that narrative.
Her insistence on keeping Cherry might have divided opinions and added fuel to the fire of fan debates.
Blake Lively Has Some A+ Advice for Aspiring Actors
Blake Lively recently shared some golden nuggets of wisdom for aspiring actors during a press roundtable for her latest film, It Ends With Us. Looper had the privilege of tapping into her vast reservoir of experience, and the actress’ advice is nothing short of epic.
When asked what advice she would give to young actors like Isabela Ferrer, who is making her feature film debut in It Ends With Us, Lively didn’t miss a beat. She emphasized the importance of watching movies like it’s your job:
Watch movies like it’s your job.
This sage counsel comes from a personal epiphany Lively experienced early in her career. She recounted a moment when someone told her that knowing movies was part and parcel of her job.
Someone said that to me once. They were asking me about a movie, and I was like, ‘I don’t know, I’ve never seen that movie.’ They were like, ‘It’s your job though.’ And I was like, ‘No, I’m an actor.’ And they’re like, ‘It is your job to watch movies’.
Lively reflected on this advice, revealing how she transformed her perception of movie-watching from a mere pastime into a vital component of her work.
Take notes, soak it all in, and who knows, you might just learn a thing or two about the world of film-making. And as for Blake Lively? Well, she’s keeping us entertained both on and off the screen, delivering laughs, wisdom, and a whole lot of sass.
It Ends with Us is currently running in theaters.
