Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively reunite for ‘A Simple Favor’ sequel

The creators of the 2018 American crime comedy thriller ‘A Simple Favor’ have officially announced its sequel, with stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively set to return, along with director Paul Feig, as reported by Variety.

Lionsgate and Amazon Studios are behind the sequel to the 2018 hit mystery-comedy, which was based on the 2017 novel of the same name. The original film followed the story of a widowed single mother named Stephanie, played by Kendrick, who becomes entangled in the mysterious disappearance of her glamorous friend Emily, portrayed by Lively.

In the sequel, titled ‘A Simple Favor 2,’ Stephanie and Emily will journey to the picturesque island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman. The setting promises a backdrop of murder and treachery amidst the stunning scenery and the wedding’s upscale guests.

Variety reports that Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua Satine, Ian Ho, and Kelly McCormack will also reprise their roles in the film. ‘A Simple Favor 2’ is set to begin production in the spring and will be available for streaming on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.

The first film was a major commercial success, grossing over $97 million worldwide. Kendrick, known for her Oscar-nominated performances, is set to make her directorial debut with the Netflix feature film ‘Woman of the Hour,’ premiering in the fall. Lively, who gained fame as Serena van der Woodsen on ‘Gossip Girl,’ has starred in a number of films including ‘The Shallows,’ ‘The Age of Adaline,’ ‘The Rhythm Section,’ and ‘The Town.’ She is also slated to direct the film adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel ‘Seconds.’

Feig, the director behind hits such as ‘Bridesmaids,’ ‘Spy,’ and ‘The Heat,’ recently directed the Netflix adaptation of ‘The School for Good And Evil,’ starring Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington, as reported by Variety.