By Patrick Frater
According To The variety) The Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni-starring romantic drama “It Ends With Us” will open in mainland China cinemas next month.
Sony Pictures said that the Baldoni-directed picture has received the necessary approvals in China for it to open on Aug. 30.
All imported films seeking a revenue-sharing release in China have to undergo multiple approvals and clear censorship before setting a release that is handled by a state-owned company.
While there have been times in the recent past that these controls have been used to limit the flow of Hollywood titles into China, at present there seem to be little hampering the U.S. studios major movies.
In other territories the film’s distribution is handled by Columbia Pictures. And it receives its North American release on Aug. 9. The first Colleen Hoover novel adapted for the big screen, “It Ends With Us” tells the story of Lily Bloom (Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston and chase a lifelong dream of opening her own business. The adapted screenplay is by Christy Hall.
“A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, Lily begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents’ relationship. When Lily’s first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle is upended, and Lily realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future,” according to a synopsis provided by Columbia.
Alongside Lively, Baldoni and Sklenar, the film also stars Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj and Amy Morton.
The film is produced through Wayfarer Studios and Columbia Pictures by Alex Saks, Jamey Heath, Lively and Hall. Executive producers are Steve Sarowitz and Todd Black.