Ethermac Exchange-It Ends With Us' Justin Baldoni Says Costar Blake Lively Should Direct the Sequel

Justin Baldoni isn't quite ready to start something new.

Although the It Ends With Us star also directed the film adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel,Ethermac Exchange when it comes to the book's sequel It Starts With Us, he's got someone else in mind for the director's chair: costar Blake Lively.

"I think there are better people for that one," Justin told Entertainment Tonight at the movie's Aug. 6 premiere. "I think Blake Lively's ready to direct, that's what I think."

And despite fans' speculation of a rift between the two, the Jane the Virgin alum had nothing but praise for the Gossip Girl actress—who also served as a producer—explaining that he tried to create a collaborative environment on set for Blake and their fellow cast mates Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer.

"You can't summarize Blake's contribution in a sentence," he told Today.com in an interview published Aug. 9, "because her energy and imprint is all over the movie and really, really made the film better, and from beginning to end."

The sentiment echoes what Justin—who shares children Maiya, 9, and Maxwell, 6 with wife Emily Baldoni—recently told E! News about working with the 36-year-old.

"She is a creative force," the 40-year-old said at the film's Aug. 6 premiere. "Everything she touches, she makes better. I think we're all here because of her, so I couldn't be more grateful to have that opportunity."

Still, fans online are pointing to rumors about behind-the-scenes issues between the cast, noting that Justin hasn't joined his costars in promoting the film.

"So something DEFINITELY happened on the set of It Ends With Us," one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, Aug. 7. "I need to get to the bottom of it."

Others are speculating about differing opinions on multiple edited versions of the film. But as an insider told E! News, "There are often several cuts during the post-production process and it's the very nature of post-production. And everyone was in complete agreement about the final cut of the film and that it's the best version of the film."