Blake Lively has found herself at the center of yet another controversy surrounding the film It Ends with Us, 

after reportedly cutting acclaimed composer Brian Tyler from the project without even listening to his completed score.

Tyler, a veteran musician known for his work on blockbuster franchises like Fast & Furious and several Marvel films, was originally brought onto the project by director Justin Baldoni. 

However, in the midst of a bitter legal feud over control of the movie, 

Lively allegedly removed Tyler in favor of composers Rob Simonsen and Duncan Blickenstaff—both of whom had prior ties to her husband, Ryan Reynolds.

According to an insider speaking to DailyMail.com, the decision was made swiftly and without any consideration for Tyler’s work. 

“When Blake took over the film, Brian had already finished a majority, if not all, of the score, based on what Justin wanted creatively,” the source claimed. “Blake didn’t even listen to his score. She knew that she wanted to bring on Rob and Duncan.”

Behind-the-Scenes Tensions and Tyler’s Concerns

Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath reportedly pushed back against the decision but were ultimately unable to prevent Tyler’s removal. The insider stated that when it became evident that Tyler would be replaced, Baldoni and Heath were left with the difficult task of breaking the news to him.

“Jamey and Justin fought this, obviously,” the source said. “But when it became clear there was nothing they could do, they called Brian and told him he was being let go. He was paid out his contract in full.”

The decision reportedly left Tyler deeply concerned about his professional reputation. Having never been fired from a project before, the BAFTA and Emmy Award-nominated composer wanted to keep the situation confidential. Despite his wishes, the abrupt change became widely known in the industry, with Tyler’s IMDb listing now showing him as “uncredited” with his score marked as “unused.”

Rumors also circulated that music superstar Taylor Swift may have played a role in his removal, but the source insisted Tyler “never worked with or met Taylor Swift,” dismissing speculation that the singer demanded his exclusion as a condition for allowing her music to be used in the film.

A Last-Minute Replacement and Unusual Circumstances

Tyler’s replacement, Simonsen, later admitted that the situation was highly unusual. Appearing on Score: The Podcast in September 2024—one month after the film’s release—he described his sudden involvement as “nutty” and suggested that the change was a last-minute decision.

“I was in London finishing up [Deadpool & Wolverine],” Simonsen explained. “There was a week of recording left, and I suddenly get a text from Blake. She sent a little video saying, ‘I’m doing this thing, I need a score—can you deliver it in a week?’ And I said, ‘I don’t think a week, but maybe three if we have three.’”

Despite his initial hesitation, Simonsen took on the project, working late into the night after finishing his commitments to Deadpool & Wolverine. “It was a little nutty,” he admitted. “It was the most ambitious ask I’ve ever faced.”

When asked if there had been a previous composer on the project, Simonsen hesitated before confirming, “Yeah, I think probably it was a scenario of a last-second replacement.”

Lively and Baldoni’s Escalating Feud

The controversy surrounding Tyler’s removal is just one aspect of the ongoing legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni, who have filed lawsuits against each other over control of It Ends with Us.

In his $400 million countersuit, Baldoni accused Lively and Reynolds of using their Hollywood influence to “steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio.” He also specifically mentioned the replacement of an “award-winning composer” in his legal filing, stating that Lively insisted on hiring musicians from Reynolds’ past projects despite the original score already being complete.

Baldoni further alleged that Sony backed Lively’s demands, even going so far as to prevent him and his editors from viewing the final version of the film. In a message included in the lawsuit, Baldoni reportedly texted his publicist in June 2024, saying, “She’s kicked me out officially from the film now. She’s finishing it all. I can’t be involved. Music, sound, VFX, everything. I’ll make it through somehow.”

A Film Plagued by Controversy

It Ends with Us, based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, has been plagued by behind-the-scenes drama since production began. What was initially expected to be a major cinematic event tackling themes of domestic violence has instead become a battleground for legal disputes and industry politics.

Lively has filed her own lawsuits against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. In response, Baldoni has denied the allegations, even releasing unedited footage from the film in an attempt to challenge Lively’s claims.

With both sides locked in a heated legal battle, the drama surrounding It Ends with Us shows no signs of cooling down anytime soon. As for Brian Tyler, while his removal from the film remains a point of contention, his extensive career suggests he will continue composing for major Hollywood projects—despite this unexpected setback.

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