‘A Simple Favor’ sequel gets new title, release date amid Blake Lively’s legal battle

The long-awaited sequel to “A Simple Favor” has gotten a caller rubric and volition person its satellite premiere erstwhile it kicks disconnected SXSW adjacent month, amid co-star Blake Lively’s ongoing ineligible conflict with Justin Baldoni.

“Another Simple Favor,” successful which Lively and Anna Kendrick reprise their roles arsenic Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers, volition debut connected opening night of the Austin-based media festival March 7.

The movie’s premiere volition travel astir a twelvemonth to the time earlier Lively and Baldoni are scheduled to caput to trial.

The film, which marks manager Paul Feig’s archetypal sequel of his ain work, takes spot connected the land of Capri, wherever Emily is acceptable to wed a affluent Italian businessman, though the nuptials are upended by “glamorous guests … execution and betrayal,” according to Deadline.

The achromatic comedy’s 2018 predecessor stars Kendrick arsenic a widowed mommy vlogger who becomes bewitched by the chic and mysterious Emily, different parent astatine their kids’ school. When Emily disappears, Stephanie becomes obsessed with solving the case.

Henry Golding and Andrew Rannells volition besides instrumentality for the sequel.

News of the rubric and merchandise day arrived 1 time aft Lively’s feud with her “It Ends With Us” manager and co-star officially made it to tribunal for a archetypal hearing.

Lively successful precocious December filed a ailment accusing Baldoni of intersexual harassment connected the acceptable of the movie and a retaliatory smear campaign — allegations highlighted successful a New York Times piece, for which Baldoni past sued the outlet for $250 million.

Justin Baldoni attends the “It Ends With Us” New York Premiere astatine AMC Lincoln Square Theater connected August 06, 2024 successful New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Baldoni besides filed a $400 cardinal lawsuit accusing Lively, her hubby Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane of defamation and civilian extortion. The trio are intending to prosecute a question to person that suit dismissed.

Baldoni and Lively’s proceedings is presently scheduled to statesman March 9, 2026, but could determination up if their respective camps don’t play bully (and quiet) successful the tribunal of nationalist opinion.