Justin Baldoni thought he was constructing momentum behind some of the anticipated e book diversifications in latest reminiscence.
As a substitute, non-public voice notes he despatched to Blake Vigorous 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 technique and script collaboration has now grow to be a part of a authorized battle price 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 had been rallying behind Abigail Cowan, Baldoni was targeted on Blake Vigorous.
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 plenty of the younger followers needed to be Lily,” he advised Vigorous in an audio clip obtained by the Day by day Mail.
Nevertheless, he rapidly dismissed that course, explaining that Cowan “appears so younger and naturally that wasn’t the film I used to be going to make or was concerned 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 concerned about making,” he mentioned, 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 Vigorous sufficient to make the story plausible.
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Baldoni Championed Blake Vigorous From The Begin
Reasonably than comply with the net marketing campaign, Justin Baldoni targeted on convincing Vigorous to take the position.
In line 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 probably robust advertising transfer that would give audiences “what they needed and what they didn’t know they needed – each of you guys in the identical movie.” Nevertheless, artistic consistency mattered extra to him.
As a substitute, Baldoni favored Isabela Ferrer for younger Lily. He advised Vigorous, “She’s a beast, and as quickly as she got here on the display screen, I used to be like, ‘Ooof. I may see younger you in her.’”
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He added that Ferrer had “depth” and insisted that viewers would “legitimately say she appears like Blake,” whereas casting Cowan would possibly 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, finally landed the position.
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Justin Baldoni Praised Blake Vigorous’s Artistic Enter
The voice notes didn’t solely cowl casting. Baldoni additionally spoke at size about working with Vigorous on script changes.
He made it clear he valued her perspective, calling on her “genius advertising mind” to assist evaluation 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 awesome author,” he mentioned.
He particularly highlighted the power she dropped at Lily’s dialogue, noting he “favored the banter and the wittiness” she had written.
Baldoni defined he needed audiences to see a completely realized lady coming into an advanced relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, quite than a naive character contemporary out of faculty.
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Baldoni Now Faces A $161 Million Lawsuit
The resurfaced audio is now a part of a broader authorized battle.
Blake Vigorous has accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment, in addition to defaming and smearing her.
She is searching for $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 Vigorous’s case must be dismissed. A ruling is pending, and the trial is scheduled for Could.
Baldoni beforehand filed his personal $400 million defamation lawsuit in opposition to Vigorous, however that case has already been dismissed.
The voice notes had been included in courtroom displays as Vigorous’s authorized workforce fights to maintain her claims shifting ahead.
Justin Baldoni’s Casting Alternative Additionally Sparked One other Dispute
Isabela Ferrer’s involvement has additionally grow to be 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 workforce used intense, repetitive subpoenas to strain her into taking sides in his ongoing dispute with Vigorous.
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 had been manipulative and aimed to manage her. Baldoni’s workforce dismissed the claims as with out advantage.