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With the filming of It Ends with Us now complete, Blake Lively and Brandon Sklenar are reflecting on their experience. During a Q&A session at Book Bonanza, moderated by Entertainment Tonight on Friday, June 14, the costars—portraying the on-screen love interests Lily Bloom and Atlas Corrigan—were asked about the journey of bringing Colleen Hoover's beloved novel to the screen.
Sklenar's initial reaction was, "Oh, boy." The 33-year-old actor elaborated, "It's been quite a trip. I had no expectations going in, and I've been blown away by the response."
One of the biggest challenges for Sklenar was portraying a character with many pre-existing fan expectations regarding his appearance and personality. He explained, "You have to divorce yourself from those preconceived notions and just do your own thing without being weighed down by what others might expect."
Sklenar highlighted working with the "powerhouse ladies" Lively, 36, and Hoover, 44, as a standout part of the experience. "Colleen and I spent time together and got to know each other. She's such a lovely person," he said, adding that meeting Blake Lively was also fantastic. As a self-professed "big Gossip Girl fan," Sklenar admitted that meeting Lively was one of the most exciting parts of the process.
Lively shared her own excitement about bringing the movie to life, saying, "It was such an emotionally rewarding film, and I'm so proud of it. To have a great female character in a movie that people will actually see is rare."
She praised Hoover for crafting a story that is "quite big and commercial but still deeply grounded in human emotion." However, Sklenar noted that the scariest part of the process is yet to come, as he hasn't seen the movie yet. Lively, reflecting on her own fears, said this was the first time she didn't feel scared, possibly because she had just had a child three months prior and had other worries on her mind.
Lively also spoke about the complexities of balancing her character's relationships with her two love interests, played by Sklenar and Justin Baldoni, who also directed the film. "It was interesting because our director also plays my other love interest. During scenes, he'd say, 'You seem like you're in love with him, but you also love Ryle,' and I'd say, 'I really love Atlas, but I also love Ryle.' My character, Lily, was conflicted."
The Gossip Girl alum noted the unique dynamic of having Baldoni both direct and act in the film, which sometimes made her question if the connections between characters were too strong. "That was always tricky for me," she admitted.
Lively expressed her deep affection for her character, Lily, saying, "I love Lily so much. It's crucial to love the character you're playing and understand and feel the heart and soul of everyone around you. Every single person in this movie is a revelation."
It Ends With Us is set to hit theaters on August 9, 2024.
