Since the release of Colleen Hoover adaptation It Ends with Us last week, there have been a flurry of rumours about a rift between its star Blake Lively and director and co-star Justin Baldoni. Speaking with Elle UK , Baldoni admitted to "friction" and "navigating personalities" on the set of the film, although he did not mention Lively by name and hinted that any tensions were actually a good thing for the film. "It's very challenging to act and direct, and especially with a project like this," he said.
"There was a lot of pressure playing such a complex role like Ryle and, of course, as a filmmaker, you're always navigating personalities. "There are all these things that happen every day on set, there's always friction that happens when you make a movie like this. Then at the end of the day, it's that friction, I believe, that creates the beautiful art.
" He added that the process was "hard" but that "everything in life needs friction to grow" and that he "grew so much as both a filmmaker, an actor and as a person throughout this experience". Whisperings of a rift between Baldoni and Lively began when fans noticed that they were not conducting any press commitments for the film together, with a string of reports as to the nature of their apparent falling out subsequently emerging. Read more: It Ends with Us finds early box office success with US previews Kraven the Hunter trailer gives new look at Aaron Taylor-Johnson vs classic villain According to The Hollywood Reporter , .