9 Justin Baldoni admitted he isn’t ready to hop back into the director’s chair at the premiere of “It Ends With Us” on Tuesday night. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Justin Baldoni is ready to pass the torch over to Blake Lively.
At the “It Ends With Us” premiere on Tuesday night, the director told “Entertainment Tonight” that he thinks Lively would be better suited to adapt Colleen Hoover’s 2022 sequel novel.
“I think that there are better people for that one,” he said. “I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct, that’s what I think.”
His comment came amid rumors the co-stars had creative differences on set, with sources telling the Hollywood Reporter that “there was a fracture among the filmmakers in the postproduction process.”
9 The actor, seen here in a scene from the movie, told “Entertainment Tonight” that he likely wouldn’t sign on to direct the “It Ends With Us” sequel, “It Starts With Us.” AP
9 Baldoni suggested co-star Blake Lively might be up for the job. AP
The alleged divide reportedly resulted in two completely different cuts of the movie, one of which was reportedly commissioned by Lively, who also served as a producer on the feature.
While it’s unclear whose version is now in theaters, the actors reportedly agreed on the final cut.
Reps for Lively, 36, and Baldoni, 40, did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Fans began speculating about the alleged rift last week after noticing Baldoni wasn’t included in cast press events and missed nearly all of the group red carpet photos.
9 “I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct, that’s what I think,” Baldoni, seen shooting with Lively in January, said. GC Images
9 Lively and Baldoni, pictured on set in January, play love interests in the adaption of Colleen Hoover’s hit novel. GC Images
Despite being the two main stars in the movie, Lively and Baldoni haven’t been photographed together at any of the global premieres. The “Gossip Girl” star and Hoover no longer follow the “Jane the Virgin” star on Instagram.
Baldoni hinted at the differing opinions during an interview with Today, telling the outlet that starring in and directing the film was an “extreme challenge.”
“Every movie is a miracle,” he said Friday. “And then, of course, you’re navigating complex personalities and trying to get everybody on the same page with the same vision. And mistakes are always made, and then you figure out how to move past them.”
The actor described himself as a “best idea wins” type of person, which admittedly sometimes leads to people questioning his “point of view” or ability to take charge.
9 Despite starring in the film, Baldoni and Lively have done virtually zero press together. TheImageDirect.com
9 Baldoni has not joined the cast at most group press events. Getty Images for Sony Pictures
However, Baldoni credited Lively and her “generous” husband, Ryan Reynolds, for making the “film better, from beginning to end.”
“You can’t summarize Blake’s contribution in a sentence, because her energy and imprint is all over the movie,” he said, noting that they both possess the “gift” of “levity.”
Baldoni and Lively play love interests Ryle Kincaid and Lily Bloom from the wildly popular novel, which came out in 2016.
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9 Fans also noticed that Lively does not follow Baldoni back on Instagram. Getty Images for Sony Pictures
9 An insider told the Hollywood Reporter that there were creative differences in postproduction. Getty Images for Sony Pictures
Although their romance seems to be a fairytale at first, Kincaid later shows his true colors as a physically and emotionally abusive partner.
At the premiere, Baldoni said the night wasn’t about him but rather “all the women [they] made this movie for.”
“If a Lily Bloom in real life can sit in this theater and maybe make a different choice for herself than was made for her, maybe she sees herself on that screen and she leaves the theater and she chooses something different for herself… that’s why I made the movie,” he said.
“That’s who I am thinking about tonight.”