Reason why there are so many Ellen Degeneres nods in controversial new film

For those among us who watched the blockbuster version of It Ends With Us before reading the Colleen Hoover novel it's based on, there's a likely chance you were left confused by the references to Ellen DeGeneres peppered throughout.

There's also a chance a couple of them may have passed you by without connecting the dots to the now-controversial TV presenter - but there's a grand total of three references to DeGeneres.

It also needs to be noted that the film makes no attempt to explain this unusual motif.

But have no fear, we are here.

Check out the trailer below:

It Ends With Us is a romance-turns-drama film that was released in the UK on 9 August, and swathes of moviegoers have bought a ticket and taken it all in.

In fact, It Ends With Us 'collected a stellar $50 million from 3,611 North American venues in its opening weekend', as per Variety.

It follows the story of Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) and her experience with domestic violence, and her relationships with love interests Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) and Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar).

The film has been marred by rumours of an off-set feud between Lively and Baldoni (the latter of which also directed the movie), leading to many online theories.

There's a number of Ellen DeGeneres references throughout It Ends With Us. (Sony Pictures)

But another source of head-scratching was the links to DeGeneres in It Ends With Us.

The first was a Finding Nemo poster in young Lily's bedroom, placed directly next to her bed.

For those not in the know, Dory was voiced by DeGeneres.

Secondly, there's a blink and you'll miss it scene in which Lily is writing in her diary, and the entry begins with 'Dear Ellen'. Intriguing...

The third and final appearance is when Lily sits down to was TV with Atlas, and The Ellen DeGeneres show is playing.

The film came out in 9 August. (Sony Pictures)

The book reveals the DeGeneres thing pretty early on - while the film never explains it.

The novel features an adult Lily revisiting her teenage years and the abuse she saw her mother face at the hands of her dad. It's revealed that she addresses all of her journal entries to DeGeneres.

Her love for the presenter doesn't stop there, though - in the book series, Lily gives her newborn daughter the middle name 'Dory' - from Finding Nemo.

It Ends With Us is in cinemas now.