Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick Return in Stylish, Chaotic Sequel “Another Simple Favor”
Blake Lively is once again lighting up the screen—and the red carpet—as she steps back into the role of the enigmatic Emily Nelson in “Another Simple Favor“, the wildly anticipated sequel to the 2018 comedy-thriller. The actress, 37, reunited with co-star Anna Kendrick and director Paul Feig in New York City for the film’s star-studded premiere on April 27. Despite being in the midst of a legal battle with actor-director Justin Baldoni, Lively kept the focus on celebration.
Blake Lively Takes To Instagram
Posting a series of behind-the-scenes moments from the event on Instagram, Lively showed her appreciation for her collaborators, writing under a video of her, Feig, and Kendrick, “@paulfeig @annkendrick47 Really are the dream. And you can see it when you watch the movie. @asimplefavor.”
The red carpet wasn’t short on affection or A-listers. Lively also shared a sweet moment with Kendrick, 39, as the two posed with arms around each other, tagging her co-star and adding a red heart emoji.
But it wasn’t just about nostalgia. Another Simple Favor raises the stakes—and the style. The sequel trades suburban Connecticut for the sun-drenched cliffs of Capri, Italy, where Emily is now set to marry a wealthy Italian businessman. And yes, murder, betrayal, and couture are all on the guest list.
Feig, returning as director, envisioned the film as a next-level sequel in the vein of The Godfather: Part II. “There aren’t that many great sequels out there,” he told IndieWire. “But with this, I thought — maybe we can pull it off.”
Early buzz suggests he may have succeeded. Premiering as the opening night film at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival, the film has drawn comparisons to a noir-soaked, fashion-forward cousin of “The White Lotus”.
“Another Simple Favor” Premise
The story picks up years after the original. Stephanie (Kendrick) has turned her past into profit with a bestselling true crime memoir—but her quiet success is interrupted when Emily resurfaces, newly freed from prison and armed with a shocking proposal: she wants Stephanie to be her maid of honor. What follows is a globe-trotting spiral into deception, secrets, and some of the most glamorous chaos to hit Prime Video.
The cast includes returning favorites like Henry Golding—whose character Sean delivers one of the film’s sharpest lines, saying he’d “rather shave [his] balls with a rusty knife” than attend the wedding—and newcomers Michele Morrone, Allison Janney, and Elena Sofia Ricci. With flamboyant fashion, outrageous twists, and hats worthy of their own IMDb page, the sequel is unapologetically over-the-top.
Amid the glittering celebration, Lively still found time to recognize the people behind the magic. In another Instagram clip, she wrote, “The greatest cast in every way. I know how fortunate I am to know and work with each of these incredible people and artists.”
She and husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, were joined at the premiere by famous friends including Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Hugh Jackman, and Shawn Levy. “I couldn’t love these people more if they were my own blood,” Lively captioned a group photo with them.
Yet behind the scenes, tension looms. Lively and Reynolds remain embroiled in a legal dispute with “It Ends with Us” director Justin Baldoni, 41. Lively filed suit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni, who denies the allegations, has countersued the couple and their publicist for $400 million. A trial is scheduled for March 2026.
For now, however, Lively is channeling her energy into the launch of what may become a murder-filled travel franchise. Written by Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis, and based once again on Darcey Bell’s novel, “Another Simple Favor” hits Prime Video on May 1. If chaos is a destination, consider this your boarding call.
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