When it comes to adapting books into TV shows or movies, casting decisions are subject to change. Whether that’s race or even gender, actors are hired for specific roles to portray the action that takes place. The Booktok sensation novel, “It Ends with Us,” takes a different direction when casting its main leads, Lily Bloom (played by Blake Lively), and Ryle Kincaid.
Fans Had Hoped It Ends with Us Would Have Chosen Fan-Casted Picks
Abigail Cowen and Theo James were fan-cast as the two main leads since nearly the beginning. Many hoped this would become a strong possibility, given their physical appearances and acting chops. But that did not appear to be the case this time around.
The original ages for these characters were 23 (Lily) and 30 (Ryle). However, the actors portraying these distinguished characters are significantly older. Blake Lively is 36 years old, while Justin Baldoni (also the director) is 40 years old. It’s not uncommon to hire actors who are older than the age they are portraying, but that’s usually only the case when individuals in their late twenties play teen roles. From a logistical perspective, older actors are hired because minors are only allowed so many hours in the day, depending on the intensity of the scenes taking place.
The Real Reason Why the Characters Were Aged Up in It Ends With Us
However, that’s not the case this time around. Colleen Hoover’s portrayal of Ryle’s character was scrutinized, considering he was a neurosurgeon already at the age of 30, so there was some legitimacy in aging his character in some ways. But the truth is, the characters were aged up because the director, Baldoni, deemed it appropriate. He revealed at The Garfield movie premiere:
“Originally, Colleen preferred the characters to be older, as she wrote this over 10 years ago, a time when everyone was writing YA. For us, it was primarily about making the story more universal, because this isn’t just a story about a young woman; it’s a story about women, and it does not discriminate,” he added. “So for us, it was primarily about ensuring that as many people as possible could understand and relate to the characters and what Lily was experiencing.”
So does it change the story? No, not necessarily. In fact, making the ages older showcases that no matter the age, romance can easily slip into toxic love. It’s easy to excuse these types of relationships when the protagonist is young, such as the likes of Sleeping with the Enemy. The truth is, it’s not about the age that makes Lily’s character fall waste to Ryle’s behavior, but rather her blinded love.
What is It Ends with Us About?
The characters’ ages don’t detract from the plot, though it may still discomfort some fans. It Ends with Us focuses on the tumultuous relationship between Lily and Ryle, where domestic violence is a primary issue in their relationship. Meanwhile, Lily is reunited with a lost flame from the past, Atlas Corrigan (played by Brandon Sklenar).
It Ends with Us releases in theaters on August 9, 2024.