Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are set to clash at the box office this weekend.
The actress’s new film It Ends With Us is poised for a huge opening weekend, per Deadline, while her husband’s Deadpool & Wolverine has dominated the box office for the past two weeks.
It Ends With Us made $7 million in Thursday previews, pushing its projected Friday total to $23.2 million. Meanwhile, Deadpool & Wolverine is expected to earn $15 million on Friday.
The outlet estimates that It Ends With Us will open around $40 million, while Deadpool & Wolverine could potentially earn up to $53 million.
Additionally, many sources are predicting a ‘Barbenheimer’ effect this weekend, with audiences flocking to see both It Ends With Us and Deadpool & Wolverine.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are set to clash at the box office this weekend; seen Tuesday
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To date, Deadpool & Wolverine has earned $407 million domestically and $851 million worldwide.
The battle at the box office comes despite Blake’s movie being been blocked for theatrical release in Qatar due to kissing scenes.
The country’s Censorship Committee banned Sony Picture’s PG-13 romance drama based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 bestseller, which focuses heavily on domestic abuse.
The 36-year-old actress, currently in a feud with her co-star Justin Baldoni, portrays Lily Bloom in the film. Her character is involved in kissing scenes and a modest sex scene where the characters remain in their undergarments.
Qatar, located on the northeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is recognized for its rigorous censorship policies and a pattern of prohibiting American movies.
The ban on It Ends With Us comes after the country previously blocked other PG-13 films like Barbie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Eternals.
It also comes after a source told DailyMail.com that the feud between Lively and Baldoni was due to the actor/director’s ‘chauvinistic’ and ‘borderline abusive’ behavior on set.
Rumors of a vicious feud between Justin, 40, and Blake have been swirling for weeks, with online sleuths highlighting how the on-screen love interests were not pictured together at the US premiere – while some cast members have blatantly swerved questions about the director.
Now, insiders have revealed the concerning truth about the tensions, telling DailyMail.com that Blake and Justin clashed over his ‘dismissive’ attitude to her ‘input’ while they were filming scenes that involved abuse.
The movie, which hits theaters today and is based off of Colleen Hoover’s hit novel of the same name, follows Blake’s Lily Bloom, a floral designer who falls in love with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, played by Justin – but soon after they start dating, the romance turns toxic.
The actress’s new film It Ends With Us is poised for a huge opening weekend, per Deadline , while her husband’s Deadpool & Wolverine has dominated the box office for the past two weeks
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman continue to wear the box office crown after their blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine landed in first place for the second week in a row — and could potentially earn up to $53 million this weekend
The insider claimed that Justin only focused on ‘what he believed was the abusive male viewpoint’ and had a very ‘chauvinistic’ approach to the topic.
‘During scenes depicting abuse, Justin failed to consider Blake’s character’s perspective, instead focusing solely on what he believed was the abusive male viewpoint,’ they said.
‘His approach was very chauvinistic, creating a tense atmosphere on set.’
The source claimed Justin was ‘borderline abusive’ on set, and said he ‘almost became the character.’
‘Justin almost became the character in the sense that some women on set felt he was borderline abusive to them and that he was unprofessional and unapologetic,’ they said.
‘Directing a film so serious and so important about domestic abuse without allowing the women to be included in this process is disturbing.’
The insider alleged that the actor, who also served as director and producer, ‘failed to recognize’ both Blake and Colleen’s roles as a fellow producer and writer.
And they said he took it ‘very personally’ when the pair asked for some script rewrites.
‘Without Colleen’s book, none of this would have been possible,’ they pointed out.
The battle at the box office comes despite Blake’s movie being been blocked for theatrical release in Qatar due to kissing scenes
It also comes after a source told DailyMail.com that the feud between Lively and co-star/director Justin Baldoni was due to the actor/director’s ‘chauvinistic’ and ‘borderline abusive’ behavior on set
‘Parts of the film were rewritten under the instruction of Colleen – they had to be. He took their script decisions very personally, even though they weren’t intended that way.’
They said things only got worse once he began to feel ‘ganged up on’ by the women on set.
‘His behavior extended beyond the main players,’ the source continued. ‘Once he felt ganged up on, he became even less empathetic.
‘Now, he’s speaking praises, likely out of fear that they’ll call him out. He knows it’s coming and might try to blame his actions on being a method actor.’
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Blake, Justin and Colleen for comment.