The first images of Blake Lively filming for the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s #BookTok famous “romance” novel It Ends With Us have dropped — and fans aren't happy.

The 35-year-old's famous blonde tresses have been replaced by long auburn locks as she takes on the role of Lily Bloom.

In these first images, Blake is seen wearing a pink shirt tied over a brown dress, layered with a dark pink shirt on top.

“I think everyone who’s seen Blake Lively as Lily on the set of It Ends With Us can all agree that they should abort that movie while they still can,” one fan tweeted. “What the h*ll is this??”

Another added: “Does the plot of this book hinge on the female lead looking like s*** because making Blake Lively look this bad is kind of a herculean feat.”

The 2016 novel follows a successful small business owner named Lily Bloom, who finds herself falling for the devastatingly handsome but controlling neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid. The book documents Lily's tumultuous marriage to Ryle as her childhood friend, Atlas Corrigan, reenters the picture.

Years after it was first published, It Ends With Us shot to the top of the bestsellers list after it gained renewed popularity on TikTok, according to BuzzFeed News. In January 2023, Hoover held the top three spots on the New York Times paperback fiction bestseller list with It Ends With Us, the sequel, It Starts With Us, and her unrelated thriller, Verity. As of January this year, It Ends With Us had held its spot as a bestseller for 90 weeks.

Given its popularity, it was only a matter of time before it made its way to the big screen. Here's everything we know.

Who is involved in It Ends With Us?

On 26 January, Deadline announced that Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who you may recognise from Jane the Virgin) had been cast in the lead roles, with Baldoni also set to direct.

In an emotional Instagram video taken outside her childhood home, Hoover gave the news to her fans directly. “Our Lily is going to be played by Blake Lively. Blake Lively, y'all. She's my dream Lily,” Hoover confirmed. “When I first met Justin Baldoni, who is directing the film for It Ends with Us, I immediately wanted him to be Ryle.”

Shortly after the announcement was made, Blake made a rather cryptic Instagram post of her own, seemingly sharing a fresh brunette dye job.

As for who will play Atlas, it was announced that this role will be taken on by Brandon Sklenar, who is best known for playing Spencer Dutton in the Yellowstone prequel, 1923.

Jenny Slate has also been signed on as Ryle's sister Allysa.

Is there any footage from the It Ends With Us filming?

Yes! The first photographs from filming have been captured by paparazzi as Blake and Justin film scenes in New Jersey.

Hoover also promises to tease as much as she can. “I think that Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively have what it takes to bring these characters to life and I cannot wait for you guys to see that happen,” Hoover said in her Instagram video. “I’m going to do my best to sneak y’all as much footage as I can without getting kicked off the set. I’m so excited, y’all.”

What's the deal with the colouring book controversy?

Hoover faced backlash after announcing that It Ends With Us would be made into a colouring book on 10 January. According to Today, fans were quick to point out that this “romanticises” domestic violence, which is a major aspect of the novel. One Twitter user described the idea as “beyond tone deaf and harmful.”

By 11 January, Hoover and Atria Books announced the colouring book would no longer be moving forward. “The colouring book was developed with Lily’s strength in mind, but I can absolutely see how this was tone-deaf,” Hoover wrote in an Instagram story. “I hear you guys, and I agree with you. No excuses. No finger-pointing. I have contacted the publisher to let them know I would prefer we don’t move forward with it. Thank you for the respectful discourse and accountability. Nothing but love.”

This isn't the first time Hoover has been accused of romanticising the abusive relationship between Lily and Ryle. While TikTok is largely responsible for the book's resurgence, it's also where many book lovers go to criticise the author. The domestic violence resource domesticshelters.org also slammed the book, writing, “It Ends With Us feeds into the very structures of toxic masculinity that it purports to combat.”

“I don’t expect everyone to like my books, so if someone doesn’t, it isn’t my job to deal with them,” Hoover told Glamour in February 2022. “That is their right, and I respect that. I put 100% of the focus into the people who do enjoy my books, and I do my very best to make those people happy.”

Not everyone is happy Lively and Baldoni are involved with the project

This post will be updated.

This story was originally published by GLAMOUR (US).

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