Blake Lively’s neon-drenched suits and Anna Kendrick’s frantic, suburban mom energy hit a chord back in 2018. It was weird. It was stylish. It was a cocktail of Gone Girl cynicism and Devil Wears Prada fashion. Since then, the internet has been obsessed with the idea of a follow-up, specifically A Simple Favor 2. But Hollywood isn't always as fast as a Twitter trend. The path to a sequel is usually paved with scheduling conflicts and script rewrites that take years to untangle.
Sequels are tricky. Especially when the first movie ends with one lead in prison and the other a successful lifestyle influencer.
Paul Feig, the director behind the original cult hit, hasn't been shy about his desire to return to this world. He loves these characters. He loves the aesthetic. Honestly, the fans love it too. But for a long time, it felt like vaporware. Just talk. Then, things started getting real. News broke that Lionsgate and Amazon MGM Studios were actually moving forward. This wasn't just another "maybe" or a "we’d love to." It was a green light.
The Messy Status of A Simple Favor 2
Movies don't just happen. They get stuck in "development hell" for years. For a while, A Simple Favor 2 was right there, sitting in a folder on someone's laptop while Blake Lively was busy with It Ends With Us and other massive projects. Anna Kendrick has been doing her own thing too, even moving into directing with Woman of the Hour.
Getting two major stars back together is a logistical nightmare. It’s basically a miracle when it works out.
Production finally kicked off in Italy in early 2024. Why Italy? Because the sequel isn't staying in the suburbs of Connecticut. It’s going international. The vibe is shifting from "suspicious neighbor" to "glamorous European wedding disaster." Most of the original cast is coming back. That includes Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, and even Bashir Salahuddin. It’s rare to get a full reunion like this, but Feig seems to have a way of keeping his troupes together.
The plot is reportedly centered around Stephanie and Emily heading to the island of Capri. There’s a wedding. There’s murder. There’s probably a lot of gin. Jessica Sharzer returned to write the script, which is a good sign for anyone worried about the tone shifting too much. You need that specific blend of "I might kill you" and "I love your shoes."
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Why the First Movie Became a Cult Classic
You can't talk about the sequel without looking at why the first one worked. It wasn't a billion-dollar blockbuster. It was a sleeper hit. People found it on streaming and fell in love with the Martini-fueled chaos. It took the "missing woman" trope and turned it into a dark comedy.
Emily Nelson, played by Lively, was a revelation. She was terrifying. She was goals. She was also a total fraud. Stephanie Smothers, Kendrick’s character, was the perfect foil—a lonely vlogger who was way more observant than she let on. The dynamic wasn't just about a mystery; it was about the toxic friendship between two women who had absolutely nothing in common.
- The costumes were iconic. (Thanks to costume designer Renée Ehrlich Kalfus).
- The soundtrack was 60s French pop perfection.
- The twist was actually surprising.
A lot of movies try to do the "unreliable narrator" thing. Most of them fail. A Simple Favor succeeded because it didn't take itself too seriously. It knew it was a bit ridiculous. It leaned into the camp. That’s what A Simple Favor 2 has to capture to succeed. If it tries to be a gritty thriller, it’ll lose the magic.
The Capri Connection and What to Expect
Moving the setting to Italy is a classic sequel move. Think The White Lotus vibes but with more intentional crime. According to the official synopses floating around trade publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the sequel follows Stephanie and Emily as they attend Emily’s wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman.
Naturally, the bodies start dropping.
It’s a smart pivot. You can’t really do the "is she missing?" plot again in the same town. The stakes have to change. By putting them in a foreign country, you isolate the characters. They can’t just call the local cops they know. They’re stuck in a high-stakes, high-fashion world where everyone has a secret.
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The tone is expected to stay firmly in the "dark comedy" lane. Paul Feig has mentioned in interviews that he wants to push the boundaries of the first film. He wants more style, more twists, and more of that biting dialogue. The challenge is making it feel like a necessary story and not just a cash grab.
Behind the Scenes: The Directing and Writing
Paul Feig is a specific kind of director. He’s the guy who gave us Bridesmaids and Spy. He knows how to direct women in a way that feels authentic but also hilariously heightened. His involvement is the main reason fans are actually optimistic about A Simple Favor 2.
Jessica Sharzer’s return as the writer is equally important. She adapted the original Darcey Bell novel, but the sequel is largely unchartered territory since there isn't a second book that follows this exact trajectory. This gives the filmmakers more freedom. They aren't beholden to a source text that might not fit the movie's established tone.
The partnership with Amazon MGM means this will likely have a massive streaming presence, even if it gets a theatrical run. In the current landscape, these mid-budget "prestige" comedies are finding their biggest audiences on platforms like Prime Video. It’s where the "watch party" culture lives.
Reality Check: The Risks of the Sequel
Sequels to niche hits are dangerous. Sometimes, the lightning doesn't strike twice. Look at Zoolander 2 or even Sex and the City 2. When you take a grounded (ish) story and blow it up for a sequel, you risk losing the heart of what made people care.
The first movie worked because of the intimacy of the betrayal. It was two moms in a kitchen. Moving to a billionaire's wedding in Capri is a huge jump. The writers have to make sure Stephanie and Emily still feel like the people we met in the first film. If Stephanie becomes a world-class super-spy, it’s over. She needs to stay the slightly dorky, overly-prepared vlogger who happens to be good at digging up dirt.
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Also, the "missing person" mystery is a one-time trick. You can't just have Emily disappear again. The sequel needs a new hook. A murder mystery "whodunnit" style seems to be the direction they are taking, which fits the current pop culture obsession with movies like Knives Out and Glass Onion.
What We Know for Sure
The release date is still a bit of a moving target, but it's looking like a late 2025 or early 2026 window. Post-production on a film like this involves a lot of color grading and music licensing—Feig is notoriously picky about his needle drops.
- Lively and Kendrick are definitely back. Their chemistry is the engine of the franchise.
- The setting is Italy. Specifically Capri.
- The plot involves a wedding. And, of course, a murder.
- It will stream on Prime Video.
Expect a lot of promotion centered around the fashion. Blake Lively is her own stylist, and her red carpet appearances for the first movie were a masterclass in method dressing. She’ll likely do the same for the sequel.
How to Prepare for the Sequel
If you’re planning on watching A Simple Favor 2, you should probably re-watch the original first. Not just for the plot, but for the details. The first movie is packed with Easter eggs and small character beats that will likely pay off in the second one. Pay attention to Emily’s "brother" story and the way Stephanie handles her vlogging business.
Check out the original novel by Darcey Bell if you want to see how much the movie changed the ending. The film’s ending was much more definitive (and funnier) than the book’s.
Keep an eye on Paul Feig’s social media. He’s very active and often shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of his sets. It’s the best way to get a feel for the "vibe" of the production before the first trailer even drops.
The anticipation for this sequel is a testament to how much people miss mid-budget movies that are actually for adults. It’s not a superhero movie. It’s not a kids' cartoon. It’s just a stylish, mean-spirited, hilarious romp. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the original on streaming: It's currently available on several platforms depending on your region (usually Prime Video or Hulu). Refreshing your memory on the "Brother" twist is essential.
- Follow the fashion: Start looking at 1960s Italian cinema (like L'Avventura) for a hint at the visual inspiration Feig has hinted at for the sequel’s aesthetic.
- Track the release: Set a Google Alert for the official trailer drop, which is expected roughly six months before the release date.
- Explore the genre: If you liked the tone, check out The Flight Attendant or Bad Sisters while you wait; they share that "dark comedy mystery" DNA that makes this franchise work.