Despite what the title may suggest, “It Ends With Us” is just the first chapter in Colleen Hoover’s viral BookTok series.
The adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 best-selling novel starring Blake Lively has got the internet talking for more than one reason — and red-carpet comments from director-star Justin Baldoni have already raised the possibility of a sequel to the film.
“I think there are better people for that one,” Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight at the film’s New York premiere when asked about the potential for a sequel.
“I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct. That’s what I think,” he added.
Given the speculation that Baldoni and Lively clashed when it came to the final cut of the movie, it’s unclear if the two would be up for getting the band back together for a follow-up.
But for those curious, here’s what happens in the second book and what screenwriter Christy Hall had to say about the likelihood of a sequel.
Everyone in Hollywood wants a piece of the Colleen Hoover empire, the film’s screenwriter told BI
While “It Ends With Us” has had a mixed response from critics, audiences have heaped praise on the big screen adaptation, and it currently holds a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
But as any Hollywood exec would tell you, the likelihood of a sequel will likely depend on the movie’s box office performance.
The film is eyeing up an opening weekend likely north of $40 million, Variety reported, meaning it may make back more than its $25 million budget.
On the prospect of a sequel, Christy Hall, who adapted the novel for the big screen, told Business Insider that the movie rights may have already been snapped up — by someone else.
“Colleen has an empire that everyone in Hollywood wants to have a piece of,” she said. “Everyone wants to be in business with Colleen so I would be interested to know who controls the rights to all of her materials at this point because I would be shocked if she’s not set all over town.”
But if the job were to fall to her again, Hall said she would not turn it down “because it’s just been the joy of a lifetime to work with her material and with her as a person.”
“I will just say, Colleen: I’d happily adapt anything with you always,” she added.
The book sequel picks up immediately after the end of ‘It Ends With Us’
The sequel, which was published in 2022, picks up immediately after the final scene from “It Ends With Us.”
Hoover notes in a message to fans at the beginning of the book that the second novel offers readers a “much lighter experience” than the first, adding that she wrote the book after being “inundated with requests for more Lily and Atlas” from fans.
That’s not to say that the plot is drama-free entirely; themes of abuse weigh heavy on the story once again, with Atlas Corrigan (played by Brandon Sklenar in the movie adaptation of “It Ends With Us”) discovering that he has a younger brother named Josh, who has run away from his abusive household.
The book also shows how Lily is able to set boundaries to keep herself safe both physically and mentally.
While fans will have to wait and see if “It Starts With Us” will make it to theaters, it seems another Hoover adaptation is already on the way.
The author’s 2018 novel “Verity” is in development at Amazon MGM Studios, Variety reported in May.
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