Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us set for massive opening weekend, faces off against husband Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine for top box office

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are likely to battle it out in theaters this weekend.

The actress’ new film, It Ends With Us, is set to have a big opening weekend, according to Termwhile her husband’s Deadpool & Wolverine dominated the box office for the past two weeks.

It Ends With Us earned $7 million in previews on Thursday, bringing its expected Friday total to $23.2 million. Meanwhile, Deadpool & Wolverine is expected to earn $15 million on Friday.

According to estimates from the film site, It Ends With Us will gross around $40 million, while Deadpool & Wolverine could potentially gross up to $53 million.

Additionally, many sources are predicting that there will be a “Barbenheimer” effect this weekend as audiences flock to see It Ends With Us and Deadpool & Wolverine.

To date, Deadpool & Wolverine has grossed $407 million in the United States and $851 million worldwide.

The box office battle rages despite Blake’s film being banned from cinemas in Qatar because of the kissing scenes.

The country’s censorship board banned the PG-13-rated romantic drama from Sony Picture, based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 best-seller that centers on domestic violence.

The 36-year-old actress, currently feuding with co-star Justin Baldoni, plays Lily Bloom in the film. Her character is involved in kissing scenes and a modest sex scene in which the characters remain in their underwear.

Located on the northeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, Qatar is known for its strict censorship policies and banning American films.

The ban on It Ends With Us comes after the country previously blocked other PG-13 films including Barbie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Eternals.

The news also comes after a source told DailyMail.com that the feud between Lively and Baldoni stemmed from the actor/director’s “chauvinistic” and “transgressive” behavior on set.

Rumors of a heated feud between 40-year-old Justin and Blake have been circulating for weeks. Online sleuths have pointed out that the two on-screen lovers were not photographed together at the US premiere. Some cast members have also outright dodged questions about the director.

Now insiders have revealed the disturbing truth about the tensions, telling DailyMail.com that Blake and Justin clashed over his “dismissive” attitude toward her “input” during the filming of scenes involving abuse.

The film, which opens in theaters today and is based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel of the same name, follows Blake’s Lily Bloom, a florist who falls in love with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, played by Justin. But shortly after they start dating, the romance turns toxic.

The actress’ new film, It Ends With Us, is set for a huge opening weekend, according to Deadline, while her husband’s Deadpool & Wolverine has dominated the box office over the past two weeks

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman continue to wear the box office crown after their blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine landed in the top spot for the second week in a row — and could potentially gross up to $53 million this weekend

The insider claimed that Justin only focused on “what he saw as the violent male point of view” and that he had a very “chauvinistic” approach to the subject.

“During scenes that depicted abuse, Justin did not consider Blake’s character’s perspective. Instead, he focused solely on what he saw as the perspective of the abusive man,” the actors said.

‘His approach was very chauvinistic and created a tense atmosphere on set.’

The source claimed that Justin behaved “almost violently” on set and that he “almost became the character.”

“Justin almost became a character in the sense that some of the women on set felt that he was almost insulting and that he was unprofessional and unapologetic,” they said.

“It’s disturbing to make a film this serious and important about domestic violence without involving the women in it.”

The insider claimed that the actor, who also served as director and producer, “didn’t recognize Blake and Colleen’s roles as co-producer and writer.”

And they said he took it “very personally” when the couple asked him to rewrite the script.

“Without Colleen’s book, none of this would have been possible,” they emphasized.

The box office battle rages on despite Blake’s film being blocked from theatrical release in Qatar over kissing scenes

It also comes after a source told DailyMail.com that the feud between Lively and co-star/director Justin Baldoni stemmed from the actor/director’s “chauvinistic” and “transgressive” behavior on set.

‘Parts of the film were rewritten under Colleen’s direction – they had to be. He took their script decisions very personally, even though they weren’t meant to be.’

They said it only got worse when he felt like the women on set were “pressured” him.

“His behavior extended beyond the main characters,” the source continued. “Once he felt attacked, he became even less empathetic.

“Now he’s giving praise, probably out of fear that they’ll challenge him. He knows it’s coming and he could attribute his actions to the fact that he’s a method actor.”

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Blake, Justin and Colleen for comment.