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Paul Feig Dismisses Rumors of Tension Between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick at SXSW Premiere of Another Simple Favor
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By Brenton Blanchet | Published on March 9, 2025, 03:22 PM EDT
Director Paul Feig is shutting down speculation about an alleged rift between Another Simple Favor stars Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick following their appearance at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival.
The two actresses, who reunited for the highly anticipated sequel to 2018’s A Simple Favor, attended the film’s premiere alongside Feig in Austin, Texas, on March 7. However, online rumors suggested that Lively, 37, was hesitant to walk the red carpet, and Kendrick, 39, wanted to avoid working with her co-star again.
Feig, 62, was quick to set the record straight. Responding to a claim made by YouTuber Melanie King on X, the director firmly stated, “Um … you’re wrong.”
Lively and Kendrick appeared together at a Q&A event following the screening, laughing and chatting throughout the discussion alongside their fellow cast members, including Henry Golding.
Working Together Again
During the SXSW premiere, Lively expressed excitement about reuniting with Kendrick, calling the experience “the best.” Kendrick responded lightheartedly with a quick, “Oh, you know,” as both actresses engaged with fans.
Speaking to PEOPLE in October, Kendrick previously described working with Lively again as “lovely,” adding, “She lives on the East Coast, I live on the West Coast, so we don’t get to see each other often. But it was lovely, and I think that those characters have such weird chemistry that it’s so fun to just get the gang back together. And it does feel a little bit like riding a bike.”
A source also confirmed to PEOPLE earlier this year that there was “really no drama or rift” between the two stars.
A Dream Project for Paul Feig
Feig shared his enthusiasm for the sequel, calling it “a dream come true” to work with the cast again. “It was too much fun. Too much fun,” he said on the red carpet. “I had such a great experience on the first one. It always stuck with me, like, ‘God, I love working with the two of them’—as well as the rest of the cast.”
He also highlighted the unique filming experience, noting that he had always wanted to shoot a film in Capri, Italy.
What to Expect from Another Simple Favor
The sequel follows Kendrick’s character, Stephanie, and Lively’s character, Emily, as they head to the stunning island of Capri for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman.
The SXSW premiere marked Lively’s first red carpet appearance since her legal dispute with It Ends with Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni began. It also follows her recent public outing with husband Ryan Reynolds at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special last month.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see Another Simple Favor—the film will begin streaming on Prime Video on May 1.
This version keeps the key details intact but enhances readability and flow! Let me know if you’d like any tweaks.