- Celebrities. Justin Baldoni strikes back: spill the beans behind his $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
- Celebrities. Taylor Swift unwilling to let Justin Baldoni case destroy her deep friendship with Blake Lively
Taylor Swift's involvement in the production of the film adaptation of It Ends With Us seems to run deeper than previously disclosed. In a resurfaced interview with Access Hollywood, director Justin Baldoni revealed that the global superstar played a pivotal role in approving Isabela Ferrer's casting as the younger version of Blake Lively's character, Lily.
Baldoni explained his decision, saying Ferrer was chosen because she and Lively shared a striking resemblance and because Ferrer is a "phenomenal actress." He added, "I had actually brought in and showed her casting tape to Blake and Taylor, and they were both, like, 'Yes! Her.' And that's a true story."
Ferrer herself confirmed this during an interview with Extra at the film's premiere. The 25-year-old actress shared her awe upon learning about Swift's influence in her audition process. "I don't even know if I'm supposed to be saying it, but I'm saying it!" Ferrer itted with a laugh. "Yeah, she was a helpful part of the process of the audition, which I found out later after I got it, and that rocked my world."
How Taylor helped shape the casting
Blake Lively, who stars as Lily in the drama, also revealed how deeply involved Swift was in the project. Speaking to CBS Mornings in August 2024, Lively shared that she sought Swift's permission to feature her song My Tears Ricochet in the film's trailer and soundtrack.
"I think that, for better or worse, she experienced the whole thing with me," Lively said, emphasizing Swift's unwavering throughout production. She also noted the challenges of securing the track for the film, given its modest budget. "We never thought... our eyeballs were not that big to think that we could put one of her songs in the movie, and it had to be."
However, Swift's involvement has become entangled in controversy amid ongoing legal battles between Baldoni and Lively. In January 2025, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, accusing her of extortion and defamation following allegations of sexual harassment. In court documents, he claimed Lively manipulated his decisions by leveraging her close relationships with Swift and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Baldoni alleged that Lively once texted him, likening herself to Khaleesi from Game of Thrones: "If you ever get around to watching Game of Thrones, you'll appreciate that I'm Khaleesi, and like her, I happen to have a few dragons," referring to Swift and Reynolds.