Despite the backlash from her fans, Colleen Hoover is “extremely happy” with the progress of the film adaptation of her book “It Ends With Us”.
“I have to see the footage they’ve taken so far. I’m not a bellboy—I know I write sentimental books, but I’m not an emotional person—and I cried a lot on set,” writer Jenna Bush told Hager Friday at the annual Book Bonanza festival in Grapevine, Texas.
Hoover’s bestseller of 2016 follows 23-year-old florist Lily Bloom (played by Blake Lively), who falls into an abusive relationship with 30-year-old surgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni).
When Lively was first spotted on the set in Hoboken, New Jersey, in May, Hoover’s fan base known as the CoHorts smashed “Gossip Girl” alum outfits online.
While filming a scene, Lively, 35, wore patterned boxers pulled up above her belly button and equally loud, patterned pants.
One TikTok user asked if the costume was a “joke”, while another asked, “Where is it in the books that Lily wears more than one pair of pants?”
But Hoover, 43, admitted that he “loves” the discussions on social media because they show how selfless his readers are.
“I don’t remember ever describing clothes. I don’t care what they’re wearing. In my head, about the conversation and the story they had. It’s the same in the movie,” he said.
“You’ve seen a few outfits that are completely out of context. I am not worried about that.”
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Hoover, who has been “obsessed” with Lively since the recently aired “Gossip Girl,” stood by her fans’ decision to cast the “Age of Adaline” actress for the role. legit” redhead.
The self-described “pessimist” said he “couldn’t believe” that Lively had agreed to appear in the film.
“According to me [Baldoni] expected [me] “Just to yell into the phone,” the 39-year-old recalled, describing the “Jane the Virgin” star telling her that Lively would take on the role of Lily.
“But she doesn’t realize… I didn’t really let myself get excited because ‘Something could happen. Filming isn’t over. Everything can go wrong.’”
Hoover also expressed readers’ concerns that the characters are getting older in the movie.
“When I wrote ‘It Ends With Us’, the new adult [genre] You were writing college-age characters. I was contracted to do this,” he explained.
“I made Lily very young. I didn’t know neurosurgeons went to school for 50 years. There is no 20-year-old neurosurgeon. When I started making this movie, I said, ‘We have to wear them out because I screwed up.’ So it’s my fault.”
While fans have been skeptical of some of Hoover’s choices for the upcoming film so far, Hoover is unaffected by their concerns.
“You guys will be very happy. I am extremely happy and now my expectations are higher and I will keep them there,” he said.
Production on the project was recently halted during the Writers Guild of America strike. A release date has not been announced yet.