All is not what it seems . There is much more to this story

All is not what it seems . There is much more to this story

According to a source the problems that are festering behind the scenes of It Ends with Us go beyond purported artistic disagreements between Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni.

“Everything is not as it seems,” a stated insider informs PEOPLE. “This tale is far more complex than that. He won’t interact with [author] Colleen Hoover or the main cast in any way.”

When we asked representatives for Lively, 36, and Baldoni, 40, for comments, they did not reply.

Over the weekend, It Ends With Us, starring Lively as Lily Bloom, a florist who falls in love with a neurosurgeon called Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni), opened to a robust $50 million at the domestic box office. From there, a toxic relationship develops.

Among the other cast members are Hasan Minhaj, Isabela Ferrer, Jenny Slate, Alex Neustaedter, and Brandon Sklenar.

Before the movie came out, there were rumors of tensions behind the scenes since Baldoni handled most of the press appearances by himself and declined to take group photos with the actors at the New York premiere. Additionally, Lively, Hoover, and Slate’s lack of reciprocal Instagram following of Baldoni was quickly noticed by fans.

Requests for comments from representatives of Slate, Sklenar, Minhaj, Ferrer, Neustaedter, and Hoover were not answered.

A source close to Baldoni said the conflict was caused by “creative differences” that had been “overblown” to PEOPLE on Monday, Aug. 8, in response to a Hollywood Reporter story that stated there “was a fracture among the filmmakers in the post-production process, wherein two different cuts of the movie emerged.” Lively, according to the source, “wants to direct the next movie, sidelining him and securing the rights from Colleen.”

However, a Hollywood source claims that talk of a sequel has not yet surfaced. The option to adapt It Starts with Us belongs to Baldoni’s production business Wayfarer Studios, he told Variety, but “I haven’t even begun to think that far ahead.” I’m making every effort to live in the now.”

News of Baldoni’s purported actions first arose on August 9, when the Daily Mail released an article claiming that Baldoni was “borderline abusive” and “chauvinistic” while working on the It Ends with Us set. Page Six revealed that same day that Baldoni made the entire ensemble feel like they were working in a “very difficult” environment behind the scenes.

During the August 6 premiere in New York City, Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight that Lively ought to direct a follow-up. “I think that there are better people for that one,” he replied. “Blake Lively seems prepared to take the helm. That’s my opinion.

Lively has mentioned adding her own touches to the movie’s music, clothes, screenplay, and other elements. She is also a producer on It Ends with Us.

“I really feel like we delivered a story that’s emotional and fun, but also funny, painful, scary, tragic, and inspirational, and that’s what life is, it’s every single color,” she said to the BBC during the London premiere, which Baldoni was not there for.

Now showing in cinemas is It Ends with Us.