Another Simple Favor Trailer Teases Deadly Drama — Lively vs. Kendrick Round Two!

The director of A Simple Favor (2018) believes that it is quite rare for lightning to strike twice, and making the same magic again would be hard for sequels. But here he is, bending his own rules.

The much-anticipated follow-up to the 2018 dark comedic thriller that recently debuted at the SXSW Film Festival is called Another Simple Favor. Before its official release, have a sneak peek at the Another Simple Favor trailer. 

Another Simple Favor plot details

The film’s setting is found five years after A Simple Favor ending. Stephanie Smothers (played by Anna Kendrick) is still traveling for her book, and sales are going down. She decides to travel to Italy to be a bridesmaid for her cunning best friend, Emily Nelson (played by Blake Lively). She is getting married to a rich Italian businessman. 

Even though Stephanie Smothers is present at the lavish wedding in Capri, Italy, she detects danger because it could be Emily’s revenge plot after she is released from prison. Watch the trailer here:

Does the Another Simple Favor trailer hint at an even deadlier twist? 

Possibly, yes, since it is a sinister revenge plot. Why would Emily want to invite someone who was the prime reason for her imprisonment? Emily is certainly up to something. 

There could be a deeper level of conflict that caused an intense enmity between the two, which Stephanie might be oblivious to. What dangerous consequences will reveal secrets and plot twists are only to be unveiled once the movie gets released. 

Director’s vision for the film

Paul Feig confessed that he broke his own longstanding rule of ‘no sequels’ by making 2018’s hit comedy thriller A Simple Favor with the same two ladies again- Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. 

He revealed to Deadline that he had always believed that sequels are “hard” and audiences usually get bored by the same story lingering on from one sequel to another. But this sequel was special to him. 

“This one just felt like ‘Oh, there is a way into this.’” [Source]

He had a special affection for its characters and was excited about the possibility of making a sequel to the first film. Everyone around him was confused about how Feig would get Lively’s character Emily out of prison, and that was when Feig had a brand new script ready for the said purpose.

He was thrilled by the possibility since he was like, “Come on- Marvel brings people back from the dead. We can get somebody out of the prison!” 

The writers’ strike affected this movie as well, just like Tom Hardy’s Havoc, and the production went on a halt. Feig used this time to rethink and develop a final version of the script so that any little tweaks could be worked on before the final work started. 

He explained that it was fun to read fan comments about the movie during that time as they got more of an idea of what they were thinking. However, the initial planning of the film was devoid of the “amount of style and fashion and twist we wanted in it”. 

The process included keeping act one the same but with major changes in acts two and three. The director was satisfied that they got this time to revisit things and get some “fun stuff” done accurately. 

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Blake Lively’s contribution to the film despite her legal battle

According to Feig, Blake Lively is not only a fashion icon but has a great sense of trendy things that fit perfectly well with the film’s requirements. As per US Magazine, Feig was totally in awe of her wardrobe ideas. She is as stylish in the sequel as she was in part one.

She always showed up with wardrobe ideas that matched spot-on with the scene’s requirements, Feig cited. For example, there was one oversized sun hat that you briefly see in the trailer as well, she bought it from a nearby store.

She asked whether it could be used in the film, to which Feig happily said, “Definitely yes. You kidding me?” As soon as she walked in the street with that hat and lifted her face at one instance, she looked like a “f***ing movie star”, Feig claimed.

Another incident was when she asked the director about a prison suit she wanted to show up in. Feig was amazed at her choice as she looked “actually brilliant”. 

He was thankful that her lawsuit against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni didn’t create a fuss in the movie’s work. There were already some murmurs in her social circle, but luckily, it didn’t affect the film’s production progress.    

Blake Lively’s thoughts on Another Simple Favor

Blake Lively showed up at the SXSW Film Festival premiere of the film amidst the ongoing legal battle. Forbes reported that she told the crowd that this is her “favorite character” that she was fortunate enough to play again. She was thrilled since the director had thrown a “curveball” at a certain time in the film that viewers would be shocked to watch. 

Fans were cheerful at her arrival where she disclosed that was nervous herself, watching the full premiere in front of a large crowd. She said with a laugh that it was “uncomfortable” for her. 

When is Another Simple Favor releasing?

Amazon MGM Studios and Lionsgate have slated Another Simple Favor for release on May 1, 2025, on Prime Video, bypassing a theatrical release this time. 

Genre: Mystery, crime, thriller, dark comedy

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Allison Janney, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells

Director: Paul Feig

Writers: Darcey Bell, Jessica Sharzer, Laeta Kalogridis

Producers: Paul Feig, Laura Allen Fischer

Release date: May 1, 2025

Movie runtime: 2 hours 

Will Another Simple Favor be even eviller than the first? Let us know in the comments below.