Justin Baldoni Opens Up About Emotional Challenges of Starring in ‘It Ends With Us’

Justin Baldoni recently shared his experience of filming the challenging scenes in his latest romantic drama, ‘It Ends With Us,’ where he not only directed but also starred as the character Ryle Kincaid. The actor-director admitted that the intense emotions from certain scenes often lingered with him, making it difficult to shake them off. These scenes, which depicted gender-based violence, were particularly tough for Baldoni to navigate.

Speaking at the premiere in New York, Baldoni spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about adapting Colleen Hoover’s 2016 bestselling novel for the screen. He revealed that the emotional weight of portraying Ryle was so intense that he frequently had to retreat to a private space to “cry or shake it out” to rid himself of the character’s energy.

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The film follows Lily Bloom, played by Blake Lively, as she overcomes a traumatic childhood and embarks on a new journey in Boston. However, her relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid soon starts to mirror the toxic dynamics she witnessed in her parents’ marriage. Baldoni pointed out that many people in real life relate to Lily’s story, and he wanted the scenes to feel as authentic as possible, despite the emotional toll it took on him.

Baldoni credited the successful portrayal of these difficult scenes to the support of an “incredible intimacy coordinator and a stunt coordinator,” as well as his co-star, Blake Lively. He explained that during the filming of these scenes, he relied heavily on these three women, who were instrumental in choreographing and managing the delicate moments, allowing him to focus on his performance.

Interestingly, Baldoni hadn’t initially planned to take on the role of Ryle, focusing instead on directing. However, after receiving encouragement from Colleen Hoover herself, he reconsidered and eventually decided to step into the role. Reflecting on this decision, he acknowledged that it was a daunting choice, but one that he ultimately embraced after careful thought and discussions with his wife.

‘It Ends With Us’ is set to hit cinemas on August 9, 2024.