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

NEW YORK — The long-awaited sequel to “A Simple Favor” has gotten a new title and will have its world premiere when it kicks off SXSW next month, amid co-star Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni.

“Another Simple Favor,” in which Lively and Anna Kendrick reprise their roles as Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers, will debut on opening night of the Austin, Texas-based media festival March 7. It’s set to hit Amazon Prime Video on May 1.

The movie’s premiere will come nearly a year to the day before Lively and Baldoni are scheduled to head to trial.

The film, which marks director Paul Feig’s first sequel of his own work, takes place on the island of Capri, where Emily is set to wed a wealthy Italian businessman, though the nuptials are upended by “glamorous guests … murder and betrayal,” according to Deadline.

The black comedy’s 2018 predecessor stars Kendrick as a widowed mommy vlogger who becomes bewitched by the chic and mysterious Emily, another mother at their kids’ school. When Emily disappears, Stephanie becomes obsessed with solving the case.

Henry Golding and Andrew Rannells will also return for the sequel.

News of the title and release date arrived one day after Lively’s feud with her “It Ends With Us” director and co-star officially made it to court for a first hearing.

Lively in late December filed a complaint accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the film and a retaliatory smear campaign — allegations highlighted in a New York Times piece, for which Baldoni then sued the outlet for $250 million.

Baldoni also filed a $400 million lawsuit accusing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane of defamation and civil extortion. The trio are intending to pursue a motion to have that lawsuit dismissed.

Baldoni and Lively’s trial is currently scheduled to begin March 9, 2026, but could move up if their respective camps don’t play nice (and quiet) in the court of public opinion.