Justin Baldoni thought he was constructing momentum behind one of the anticipated ebook diversifications in current reminiscence.
As an alternative, personal voice notes he despatched to Blake Full of life have resurfaced in courtroom filings, and they’re elevating new questions on casting decisions, artistic management, and what actually occurred behind the scenes of “It Ends with Us.”
What started as a advertising and marketing technique and script collaboration has now change into a part of a authorized battle value lots of of hundreds of thousands.
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Justin Baldoni Rejected Fan Favourite Abigail Cowan Early On
Lengthy earlier than cameras rolled, Justin Baldoni had already made up his thoughts about who ought to play Lily Bloom.
Whereas hundreds of followers of Colleen Hoover’s novel have been rallying behind Abigail Cowan, Baldoni was centered on Blake Full of life.
In an early voice be aware despatched throughout pre-production, the director acknowledged that Cowan had robust fan assist.
“Earlier than we introduced you and for a few years, Abigail Cowan was who loads of the younger followers wished to be Lily,” he instructed Full of life in an audio clip obtained by the Day by day Mail.
Nevertheless, he rapidly dismissed that course, explaining that Cowan “seems to be so younger and naturally that wasn’t the film I used to be going to make or was eager about making.”
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Baldoni was clear about tone. He didn’t need, as he put it, “some 22-year-old contemporary out of school” on the middle of the story.
“That’s not the film I used to be eager about making,” he stated, signaling that he envisioned a extra mature portrayal of Lily’s difficult journey.
On the time of filming in mid-2023, Cowan would have been 25. Nevertheless, the 42-year-old maintained that she didn’t intently resemble Full of life sufficient to make the story plausible.
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Baldoni Championed Blake Full of life From The Begin
Quite than comply with the web marketing campaign, Justin Baldoni centered on convincing Full of life to take the position.
In accordance with the recordings, he believed pairing her with a youthful actress who resembled her would strengthen the story.
He admitted casting Cowan may need glad hardcore readers and even described it as a doubtlessly robust advertising and marketing transfer that would give audiences “what they wished and what they didn’t know they wished – each of you guys in the identical movie.” Nevertheless, artistic consistency mattered extra to him.
As an alternative, Baldoni favored Isabela Ferrer for younger Lily. He instructed Full of life, “She’s a beast, and as quickly as she got here on the display screen, I used to be like, ‘Ooof. I might see younger you in her.’”
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He added that Ferrer had “depth” and insisted that viewers would “legitimately say she seems to be like Blake,” whereas casting Cowan may require “a little bit of a suspension of disbelief.”
Ferrer, who’s two-and-a-half years youthful than Cowan and a second cousin of George Clooney, in the end landed the position.
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Justin Baldoni Praised Blake Full of life’s Artistic Enter
The voice notes didn’t solely cowl casting. Baldoni additionally spoke at size about working with Full of life on script changes.
He made it clear he valued her perspective, calling on her “genius advertising and marketing mind” to assist assessment 2,600 submissions for the youthful Lily position.
In a second message discussing script revisions, Baldoni expressed enthusiasm about their collaboration.
“I do know in my bones how excited I’m to work with you as a artistic since you give a sh-t and that’s so f-cking cool, and also you’re good, you’re humorous, and also you’re all of the issues, and also you’re an ideal author,” he stated.
He particularly highlighted the power she dropped at Lily’s dialogue, noting he “appreciated the banter and the wittiness” she had written.
Baldoni defined he wished audiences to see a completely realized girl getting into an advanced relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, fairly than a naive character contemporary out of college.
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Baldoni Now Faces A $161 Million Lawsuit
The resurfaced audio is now a part of a broader authorized battle.
Blake Full of life has accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment, in addition to defaming and smearing her.
She is in search of $161 million in damages. Baldoni denies the allegations.
Earlier this month, attorneys argued earlier than a federal decide in New York over whether or not Full of life’s case ought to be dismissed. A ruling is pending, and the trial is scheduled for Might.
Baldoni beforehand filed his personal $400 million defamation lawsuit in opposition to Full of life, however that case has already been dismissed.
The voice notes have been included in courtroom displays as Full of life’s authorized staff fights to maintain her claims shifting ahead.
Justin Baldoni’s Casting Alternative Additionally Sparked One other Dispute
Isabela Ferrer’s involvement has additionally change into a part of the controversy.
In August 2025, after being solid as younger Lily, she accused Baldoni of authorized harassment and bullying.
Ferrer alleged that Baldoni’s staff used intense, repetitive subpoenas to stress her into taking sides in his ongoing dispute with Full of life.
Recall that on August 12, 2025, Baldoni’s attorneys filed a movement, claiming that Ferrer had been unreachable and unresponsive.
In her personal submitting, Ferrer argued Baldoni’s motions have been manipulative and aimed to regulate her. Baldoni’s staff dismissed the claims as with out advantage.
