Justin Baldoni hinted at “friction” on the set of his hit film It ends with us.

Speculation of behind-the-scenes drama among the cast of the romantic drama has been swirling online since it underperformed at the box office over the weekend. Blake Lively and co-star/director Baldoni were kept apart during the film’s press conference and did not pose together at the premiere. Rumors of a split have been fueled by the fact that Lively, writer Colleen Hoover and co-star Jenny Slate have not followed him back on Instagram.

In a recently published interview with ELLE UK, Baldoni, 40, called Lively, 36, a “powerhouse” to work with and also explained how “friction” on set can benefit the final product. (Lively was also a producer on the project.)

“There’s all these things that happen every day on set, there’s always friction when you’re making a film like this,” he said. “And ultimately it’s that friction, I believe, that creates the beautiful art. Everything in life needs friction to grow.”

He added: “We created something so beautiful and so magical, and it was hard, and it was worth it at the same time. And I’ve grown so much as a filmmaker, an actor, and a person through this experience.”

In another interview, Baldoni said Today that “every film is a miracle.” Plus, he added, “you’re navigating complex personalities and trying to get everyone on the same page with the same vision. And mistakes are always going to be made, and then you figure out how to overcome them.”

Baldoni acquired the rights to adapt Hoover’s 2016 bestseller into a film in 2019. Lively is expected to join the cast in January 2023. While no official sequel has been announced, Hoover has written a follow-up book, It starts with uspublished in 2022. (Baldoni told Variety his production company Wayfarer Studios has the option on It starts with us but “I haven’t even begun to think that far ahead. I try to stay in the present as much as possible.”)

At the New York City premiere on August 6, Baldoni was asked if he would like to direct the sequel, and he suggested Entertainment tonight that Lively would direct it instead: “I think there are better people for that movie. I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s what I think.”

Author Hoover, an executive producer, has also spoken out about whether Lively should direct the potential sequel. AND“I think whoever decides to take charge of the next one would do it right. But you know, it’s a lot of people who are going to have the same schedules again.”

Lively made her directorial debut with her friend Taylor Swift’s 2021 music video “I Bet You Think About Me,” for which she received a CMA nomination and two ACM Award nominations.

In It ends with usLively and Baldoni portray an abusive relationship. The cast also includes Brandon Sklenar, Hasan Minhaj, Isabela Ferrer and more.

There have been reports of creative clashes during the post-production process, which reportedly led to two different edits of the film, according to The Hollywood ReporterThe outlet claimed that “there was a rift among the filmmakers,” but a source told PEOPLE that it’s “normal to have multiple versions of a film during post-production, and everyone here agreed on the final theatrical version.”

A source told PEOPLE on Aug. 12 that “not everything is as it seems” and that “there is much more to this story.” The insider added that “the leads and Colleen Hoover want nothing to do with” Baldoni.

In April, Baldoni told PEOPLE about Lively’s impact on the film. “There wasn’t a single part of this production that she didn’t sit in on and have an influence on,” he said. “And everything she put her hands on and her mind on, she made better.”

Lively has spoken about his contributions to almost every aspect of It ends with usadding her own touches to the music, costumes, dialogue and more.

In a recent interview with British radio station Hits Radio, Lively gave an example of a creative disagreement. She began her story with, “I really shouldn’t talk about this, but…” She explained that “they begged me” to remove Lana Del Rey’s song “Cherry” from the film.

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Lively told the BBC at the London premiere, which Baldoni did not attend: “I really feel like we’ve delivered a story that is emotional and fun, but also funny, painful, scary, tragic and inspiring. That’s what life is, it’s all the colors of the rainbow.”

She added that the film, which opened to a better-than-expected $50 million at the U.S. box office, was made “with a lot of empathy.”

It ends with us is now playing in theaters.