Wait, they're actually doing it. After years of speculation and those cryptic Instagram posts from Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, A Simple Favor 2 is officially a real thing. If you’re like me, you probably walked out of the theater in 2018 thinking that story was zipped up tight. Stephanie was a successful "momfluencer" with a side gig as a private investigator, and Emily was, well, rotting in prison after trying to kill her husband and framing her best friend.
It was a perfect, nasty little neon-noir package.
But Hollywood loves a hit, and Paul Feig—the guy who usually does straight-up comedies like Bridesmaids—found a weirdly specific magic with the first film. It was the clothes. The martinis. The casual sociopathy. Now, we’re heading to Italy.
Why Italy is the Perfect Backdrop for Emily’s Return
Moving the production to the Amalfi Coast isn't just a flex by the location scouts. It’s a deliberate shift in tone. If the first movie was about the suffocating, beige-colored secrets of American suburbia, A Simple Favor 2 is clearly aiming for "European Vacation gone horribly wrong."
Think The Talented Mr. Ripley, but with more gin and better tailoring.
The plot, confirmed by Lionsgate and Amazon MGM Studios, centers on the wedding of Emily Nelson. Yes, she’s getting married. To a wealthy Italian businessman, naturally. You’ve gotta wonder how she got out of prison so fast, but in the world of Stephanie and Emily, reality is always a bit flexible. The sequel brings back the core trio: Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, and Henry Golding.
It's actually kind of wild that they got the whole gang back together. Golding is a massive star now. Kendrick has been busy directing her own features like Woman of the Hour. And Blake? She’s basically a brand unto herself. Getting them all on a set in Italy suggests the script by Jessica Sharzer actually has some teeth.
The Stephanie and Emily Dynamic is the Only Thing That Matters
Let’s be real. Nobody watched the first movie for the plot about insurance fraud. We watched it because the "friendship" between Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson was a beautiful train wreck.
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Stephanie is the human equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte with a hidden switchblade. Emily is a shark in a three-piece suit.
In A Simple Favor 2, that power dynamic is almost certainly going to be flipped. In the original, Stephanie was the naive one being played. By the end, she was the one holding the recording device. For the sequel to work, Stephanie can't just be the "helpful friend" anymore. She’s tasted the drama. She likes it.
I’ve seen some theories floating around that Stephanie might actually be the antagonist this time. While that’s probably a stretch, Paul Feig has hinted that the sequel will lean into the "murder mystery" aspect even harder. Except this time, the guests at the Italian wedding are the ones dropping like flies.
Who Else Is Coming to the Party?
The casting for the sequel is honestly stacked. You’ve got:
- Allison Janney (Because everything is better with Allison Janney)
- Elena Sofia Ricci
- Michele Morrone (Yes, the guy from 365 Days)
- Elizabeth Perkins
- Alex Newell
It’s an eclectic mix. Adding Allison Janney suggests there’s going to be a heavy dose of acerbic wit, likely playing someone who sees right through Emily’s "reformed" act.
Addressing the "Direct-to-Streaming" Elephant in the Room
One detail that has some fans worried is that A Simple Favor 2 is being produced for Amazon Prime Video. Usually, when a sequel to a theatrical hit moves to streaming, people assume the budget was slashed or the quality isn't there.
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Honestly? I don't think that's the case here.
Streaming platforms are the new home for "mid-budget" adult thrillers. Theaters are currently dominated by superheroes and $200 million sequels. A movie about two women drinking gin and lying to each other is a tough sell for a 3,000-screen release in 2026. By going to Prime, they actually get more freedom to be R-rated, weird, and stylized.
Plus, the fashion budget alone looks insane. The leaked set photos show Blake Lively in a massive white wedding ensemble that looks like it weighs more than she does. If this were a "cheap" sequel, they’d be filming in a warehouse in Atlanta, not on a yacht in the Mediterranean.
What Most People Get Wrong About the First Movie’s Ending
To understand where A Simple Favor 2 is going, you have to remember how the first one actually ended. Most people remember Emily going to jail. They forget that Stephanie’s vlog became a massive success.
Stephanie isn't a "simple" mommy blogger anymore.
She’s a true-crime personality. She has an audience. In the sequel, her presence at Emily’s wedding isn't just as a bridesmaid—it’s as a brand. If something goes wrong in Italy, Stephanie isn't just going to solve the crime; she’s going to livestream it.
That’s a dangerous motivation. It makes her just as predatory as Emily, in her own "polite" way.
The Mystery We Actually Need Solved
There are still hanging threads. What happened to Sean (Henry Golding)? The first movie left him in a weird spot—part victim, part accomplice, mostly just confused. He’s returning for the sequel, which means he’s likely still entangled in Emily’s web.
Is he the groom? Probably not, given the "Italian businessman" plot point. Is he the guy Stephanie is leaning on? Or is he the one Emily is trying to silence for good?
The script needs to handle his character carefully. In the first film, he was the weakest link in the trio because he was the most "normal." In a sequel where everyone is dialled up to eleven, Sean needs to have his own dark side.
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Why We Keep Coming Back to These Characters
There’s a specific vibe to this franchise. It’s "Suburban Noir." It’s the idea that behind every perfectly manicured lawn or every "perfect" Instagram post, there’s someone hiding a body or faking their own death.
We love Emily because she does the things we’re too polite to do. She’s rude. She’s direct. She drinks mid-day.
We love Stephanie because she’s us—or who we pretend to be—until she isn't. The sequel works if it leans into that duality. Don't give us a standard "whodunnit." Give us a "why-is-she-doing-this-again."
Actionable Insights for the Fans
If you're planning on watching A Simple Favor 2, here is how to prep so you actually catch the nuances:
- Rewatch the first film with an eye on the outfits. Paul Feig uses costume design as character development. Emily’s suits are armor. Stephanie’s bright colors are a disguise. Pay attention to what they wear in Italy; it’ll tell you who’s winning.
- Follow the "Mommy-Vlog" updates. The marketing for the first movie was genius, using Stephanie’s actual vlog "Social Media" accounts. Expect the same for the sequel.
- Don't trust the trailers. The first movie's trailer made it look like a standard missing-persons thriller. It turned out to be a dark comedy. Expect the sequel's marketing to lie to you too.
The movie is expected to drop on Prime Video later this year. It’s been a long wait—nearly eight years since the original—but with the original creative team and a bigger, sunnier, bloodier playground, it’s looking like one of those rare sequels that might actually justify its existence.
Keep your martinis cold and your secrets colder. Italy isn't ready for Stephanie Smothers.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Check the Official Lionsgate Socials: They have started teasing "behind the scenes" looks at the Italian sets.
- Look for the Soundtrack: The first movie popularized French pop for a new generation; the sequel's soundtrack is rumored to do the same with 1960s Italian "Giallo" inspired tracks.
- Monitor the Prime Video Release Date: While a specific day hasn't been nailed down, the production wrapped in late 2024, placing the release squarely in the mid-2026 window.