News

When screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis came aboard to co-write Another Simple Favor alongside franchise veteran Jessica Sharzer, she was met with a difficult task.

The question, she says, was “How do you match, let alone exceed, the level of absolute insanity in that first movie? How do you get to that point where people are really genuinely surprised, but don’t feel like they’re pulled out of the film?”

That question and more were answered by the film’s team — Kalogridis, Sharzer, director Paul Feig, producer Laura Fischer and editor Brent White — during a panel discussion at Deadline Studio at Prime Experience. Check out the conversation in the video below and scroll down for photos from the event.

Recently released on Prime Video, the new film from Feig is the sequel to A Simple Favor, a darkly comedic mystery from 2018 that grossed nearly $100 million worldwide and expanded its audience on streaming amid the pandemic.

Blake Lively is one of those actresses in the movie industry who has constantly reinvented herself and managed to stay relevant for well over twenty years now. The daughter of actor Ernie Lively, she made her professional debut in his directorial project Sandman back in 1998. However, it was not until she appeared in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants that Hollywood actually started taking notice of her.

Over the years, Lively has tasted success from television to the big screen. Her choice of different kinds of roles not only added variety to her filmography but also earned her paychecks in different amounts. Let’s take a look at the four highest-paying roles of Blake Lively that helped her become one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses.

4. Adaline Bowman in The Age of Adaline Blake Lively in The Age of Adaline | Credit: Starz Entertainment/Lionsgate Films

The Age of Adaline gave Blake...

Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick have been making headlines again due to a rumored feud, but whether this is true or just a strategy to promote their latest project, Another Simple Favor—we hope it’s the latter. The nasty reports had been making rounds since 2017 when they started filming the original movie.

All the words about their alleged feud went from trivial to wild, especially during their promotional tours where they seemed friendly the first minute, and then they threw shade at each other the next one. The issue got worse over time, and director Paul Feig had to step in and shut down the rumors.

Are Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick really beefing amid the release of Another Simple Favor?

Seven years after the first movie came out, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reunited for another thrilling drama in Another Simple Favor. The rumors of a feud resurfaced...

Kjersti Flaa earlier shared in a video about an interview with Blake Lively, claiming that it almost made her quit her job. Flaa has since doubled down on her take about the star, almost making it her mission to expose Lively. During her most recent video, Flaa tried to prove that Lively allegedly took over the creative in her recent film, Another Simple Favor.

Flaa brought with her a THR interview with the film’s co-writer Jessica Sharzer, which allegedly proved that Lively had more creative powers. Flaa pointed out how Sharzer unintentionally revealed how much influence the It Ends With Us star had on the set of the Paul Feig film.

Kjersti Flaa calls out Blake Lively over allegedly trying to take control of Another Simple Favor Kjersti Flaa in a still from her video series Flaawsome Talk | Credits: Kjersti Flaa/YouTube

Kjersti Flaa is exposing Blake Lively for...

In the grand culmination of lucky Season 13, the final four battle it out for the Golden Mask trophy on The Masked Singer! Boogie Woogie, Coral, Mad Scientist Monster, and Pearl take the stage for the last time as panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora make their final guesses for a chance to win their own Golden Ear trophy.

Four mystery celebs will be unmasked, but only one can walk away a winner as Nick Cannon hosts "The Two-Hour Lucky Season 13 Finale" episode of The Masked Singer airing Wednesday, May 7 (8 p.m. Et/Pt) on Fox.

So far this season, 11 famous faces have been unmasked: Cedric the Entertainer as Honey Pot, Oscar De La Hoya as Fuzzy Peas, Aubrey O'Day as Ant, Scheana Shay as Bat, Flavor Flav as Space Ranger, James Van Der Beek as Griffin, Candace Cameron Bure as Cherry Blossom, Method Man as Stud Muffin,...

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Blake Lively is once again the target of an ostensibly organic hate campaign.

This time, however, the anger might be real.

Despite the legal war that Justin Baldoni is waging against her and her husband, this may be unrelated.

This “controversy” stems from incestuous scenes from her latest film, Another Simple Favor.

Blake Lively attends the “Another Simple Favour” photocall at the Corinthia Hotel on April 15, 2025. (Photo Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) A certain crowd is angry at Blake Lively over ‘Another Simple Favor’

Another Simple Favor is the sequel to the nice yet beloved film, A Simple Favor.

Both projects star Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. The sequel released on May 1 on Prime Video.

Blake portrays a fashion PR director, Emily Nelson.

However, she also plays some other characters. This is where spoilers come into play, so be warned. This is also where the “controversy” emerges.

This article is part of ScreenRant's Exclusive 2025 Summer Movie Preview. Keep an eye out for the full feature next week!

A new first-look image from Smurfs showcases three important characters. The live-action animated musical, which was helmed by Puss in Boots director Chris Miller, is the newest installment in the long-running multimedia franchise that began as a series of Belgian comics by Peyo. The upcoming Smurfs follows the wizards Razamel and Gargamel (both voiced by J. P. Karliak) kidnapping Papa Smurf (John Goodman), forcing Smurfette (Rihanna) to mount a rescue mission that takes the Smurfs into the real world. The voice cast also includes James Corden, Nick Offerman, Sandra Oh, and Xolo Maridueña.

ScreenRant can now share an exclusive first-look image from Smurfs ahead of the movie's official theatrical release date on July 18. The image shows Papa Smurf, Smurfette, and an unnamed Smurf known as No Name (Corden) looking...

A new movie trailer on Prime Video has broken a major streaming record. In 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine's movie trailer went viral, garnering 365 million views across platforms in the first 24 hours, and became the most-viewed movie trailer of all time in the first 24 hours, surpassing Spider-Man: No Way Home's record. Original streaming movies, which began to emerge in recent years, have been quietly making history.

Prime Video, in particular, has a lot of exciting new projects in store for 2025. Based on the true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome), Unstoppable stars Jennifer Lopez as a devoted mother and became the most popular movie on the platform. April saw the release of G20, headlined by Oscar-winner Viola Davis as U.S. President Danielle Sutton, being targeted by attackers. This was followed by the Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick co-led sequel, Another Simple Favor, in May.

Culpa Nuestra's Trailer Broke...

Looking for something to watch tonight? Netflix has a huge library of films, but we’re here to help. Here are 21 underrated films available to stream now…

There’s a lot of streaming services out there and their libraries have seemingly an unending amount of films, which means that a lot of gems get buried under bigger, better known films. It’s become a little scary trying to find something to watch, especially if you’re already familiar with the blockbuster-y films on the front page.

We’ve taken a deep five into the depths of Netflix and dug out lots of films you may not have come across, or even if you have, deserve another watch.

Here are 22 underappreciated films on Netflix UK that are well worth your time, in our humble view.

Unicorns Credit: Signature UK

Ben Hardy’s single dad Luke falls for a drag queen Aysha...

May signals the transition between spring and summer, and the slate of new films rotating onto Netflix this month also reflect the pollen in the air and the later and later sunsets.

Whether the warmer weather and longer stretches of daylight encourage the scaredy cats to venture outside their comfort zones and watch some thrillers or whether it calls for more lighthearted fair in the form of animated adventures or romantic comedies, Netflix has its viewers set for all kinds of options in May 2025. For those looking to stream A Simple Favor, to refresh ahead of the sequel film Another Simple Favor now on Prime Video, the original film will be on Netflix until May 19.

Find the seven best new movies streaming on Netflix in May below:

Past Lives – May 1

Greta Lee and Teo Yoo in ‘Past Lives’

Those getting excited for Celine Song’s The Materialists coming to theaters...

Fans of Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor love the film’s twisty narrative and the way it deftly blends thriller tropes with comedic overtones. The 2018 film left off with an ending that seemed to suggest there was more story to tell, and as it turns out, there is. The follow-up, Another Simple Favor, was announced way back in 2022, and fans have been eagerly anticipating it ever since. With the film finally available on Prime Video, subscribers have been watching the flick en masse, driving it all the way to the top of the charts. Not only is the film the most-watched feature on the platform, but it’s also the most-watched title overall, regardless of format.

The setup for Another Simple Favor is this: Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) agrees to travel to Italy to be the maid of honor for the devious and cunning Emily Nelson (Lively). However, she soon...

Before A Simple Favor exits Netflix in May 2025, there’s one scene that stands out, defining the film’s psychological intricacy and noir charm. The 2018 dark-comedy thriller took viewers by surprise thanks to the brilliant performances, crazy plot twists, and gorgeous designer fits that seamlessly paired couture with scandalous suburban secrets.

Portrayed by Blake Lively, her character Emily Nelson is a glamorous PR director with a past deeper than her closet. Her husband, played by Henry Golding, is a calm Englishman who skipped over a few red flags. And then we have Anna Kendrick playing a single vlogger mom Emily meets at her son’s school. The two women bond over afternoon martinis and oversharing, which turns into a blossoming, unlikely friendship.

A Simple Favor knew how to do shock value and sinister plans right

Not too long into their friendship, Emily (Blake Lively) asks Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) to babysit...

“The Kelly Clarkson Show” wraps up the week with a feel-good Friday blend of star power, home design, and Derby delights. Kelly’s Kellyoke pick this Friday is “Where Have You Been?,” a high-energy start to the final show of the week. Actress Anna Kendrick stops by for a conversation, and actor Gabriel Luna joins the […]

The Kelly Clarkson Show: Anna Kendrick, Gabriel Luna...

Blake Lively is back with a new project, Another Simple Favor. The film, which headed straight to streaming on Prime Video, marked her first release since the It Ends With Us legal battle.

In late December, Lively accused her former co-star Justin Baldoni, who was also the director and producer of It Ends With Us, of sexual harassment on set and a smear campaign to destroy her reputation. An extensive legal battle ensued, with multiple lawsuits and many other defendants involved. A sequel to 2018's A Simple Favor, the new Another Simple Favor reunited Lively with several creatives, and she just received new support from original writer Jessica Sharzer in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Sharzer wrote the script for the first film, and co-wrote the second with Laeta Kalogridis. The sequel doubled down on the twists of the first movie, which had been a critical and commercial success.

A Simple Favor is back — however, it’s anything but simple.

Another Simple Favor, Paul Feig’s follow-up to the 2018 film, sees the return of Blake Lively as Emily, Anna Kendrick as Stephanie and Henry Golding as Sean, and follows their lives when Emily is released from prison after murdering her twin sister. The next adventure shows them reuniting in Capri to attend Emily’s wedding, where she marries a new man, Dante, who is part of an Italian mob.

But to no surprise, not everything goes smoothly, as there are even more twists in this sequel. [Major spoilers from Another Simple Favor.] It’s revealed that Emily’s triplet, Charity, who is believed to have died during childbirth, is on a murder spree, killing Dante — as well as Emily’s ex-husband, Sean. She also has an obsession with Emily, as she thinks they are one. Jessica Sharzer, who was a co-writer along with Laeta Kalogridis,...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This May, we are getting a ton of content from the much-anticipated return of Love, Death and Robots and Nine Perfect Strangers on streaming, to the release of some of the most anticipated movies of this year, such as Thunderbolts* and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. This upcoming month will see the release of many great movies, so we thought of compiling a list of all the best movies that are coming straight to streaming.

Another Simple Favor (Prime Video) – May 1, 2025 Credit – Amazon MGM Studios

Another Simple Favor is a dark comedy mystery film directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis. The 2025 sequel film is set five years after the events of the first film, and it follows Stephanie as she is invited by Emily to her wedding in Italy. Stephanie fears...

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Another Simple Favor.Another Simple Favor director Paul Feig explains why Charity was after Stephanie Smothers. During the sequel, Stephanie and Emily Nelson are reunited for a lavish, and seemingly unexpected, Italian wedding between Emily and Dante Versano. Amid more murders and another puzzling investigation, the movie reveals that Charity is alive. The presumably deceased McLanden triplet impersonates Emily and, while Another Simple Favor unravels, confronts and kisses Stephanie.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Feig addressed the kiss between Charity and Stephanie, revealing that Kendrick and Lively were on board. He clarified that, since Charity was posing as Emily, she was leaning into and exploring that dynamic, and the resulting moment with Stephanie became “a very natural thing.” Read Feig’s comments below:

Everybody was into it. Blake and Anna were so game for doing it. Charity is so trying to live Emily's life,...

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Another Simple Favor.Paul Feig, who wrote and directed Another Simple Favor, breaks down the gruesome death of one major character. Taking place five years after the original movie, A Simple Favor, the sequel revolves around Emily (Blake Lively) inviting Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and her ex-husband, Sean (Henry Golding), to her wedding in Italy. However, things take a sudden turn after the reception, and Sean soon ends up dead.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Feig unveiled the thought process behind Sean's death in Another Simple Favor. The director revealed that the idea of Sean being Charity's first victim came up after Golding pushed back on Sean again being a pushover in the sequel and made a personal request for it to be "gruesome." Feig also shared that the shower death had a true crime connection. Read his comments below:

In the first draft of the script,...

While many stars of “Another Simple Favor” have avoided speaking out about Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni following their ongoing legal feud and trial, director Paul Feig is showing his support for “It Ends With Us” star Lively.

Commenting on rumors that Anna Kendrick and Lively feuded on the set of “Another Simple Favor,” Feig told Esquire: “Blake is an amazing collaborator, so when I read people’s misconceptions about how movies are made, it’s just frustrating for me.”

He added: “When the gang on the internet get [up in arms] about something, it’s just like, guys, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I love working with Blake — she’s just the best.”

Feig’s support comes after months of public interest in Lively and Baldoni’s case. In December, Lively filed a letter with the California Civil Rights Department, claiming that Baldoni sexually harassed her while filming “It Ends With Us,...

Just days after Another Simple Favor finally brought Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick back to Prime Video, the Paul Feig-directed sequel has claimed the top spot on the global movie chart. While the film has gained mixed reviews, the controversy surrounding its star has no doubt helped to give the movie a push, and following the success of any movie, questions turn to whether there is still enough fuel in the tank for another outing.

MovieWeb’s George Edelman recently caught up with Paul Feig to discuss the new release, and asked the director if he believes there is a chance that Kendrick’s Stephanie Smothers is likely to do Lively’s Emily Nelson yet another simple favor in the future? For Feig, it is certainly not out of the question.

“I mean, you know, they've evolved so much, the two characters, you know, especially Stephanie, who is in such a completely different place.

Blake Lively’s latest film, Another Simple Favor (now streaming on Prime Video), couldn’t be miles away from the emotional heaviness of her last role, It Ends With Us, which is no accident. During a recent late-night appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Lively revealed how the dark-comedy sequel offered a much-needed breather from the emotional weight of her other projects—and the criticism that followed.

“This year has been full of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life, Fear is by design… but I’m fortunate to have a voice.” she admitted, reffering to personal challenges without delving into details.

The Gossip Girl star’s back to another martini-fueled chaos of Another Simple Favor. While It Ends With Us sparked heated debates about its portrayal of relationships, the Simple Favor franchise lets Lively flex her comedic skills and dodge controversy.

Backlash for sneakily featuring Ryan...

Blake Lively has been turning heads with one stunning look after another as she continues the press tour for her new film, Another Simple Favor. Her latest fashion moment was no exception—stepping out after Late Night with Seth Meyers, she flaunted her famously long legs in a blue tweed mini skirt and cropped blazer by Carolina Herrera.

The outfit from the brand’s Fall 2025 collection featured dazzling crystal embellishments, adding sparkle to the structured silhouette. She completed the look with Christian Louboutin’s edgy Estepic spiked pumps, blending vintage sophistication with a punk-inspired twist. This chic combination perfectly captured Blake’s signature blend of elegance and fashion-forward edge.

Blake Lively showcases her style prowess while promoting Another Simple Favor in New York City: a blue tweed skirt suit with Christian Louboutin Estepic spike pumps, a tweed vest suit, and a mint-green Tamara Ralph gown (Credit: Roger Wong / Janet Mayer...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Another Simple Favor is a dark comedy mystery crime film directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay co-written by Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis. The 2025 sequel film is set five years after the events of A Simple Favor, and it follows Stephanie, who’s now a popular true crime vlogger, as she is invited by Emily to her wedding in Italy. The wedding is soon interrupted by a brutal murder, forcing Stephanie to investigate it. Another Simple Favor stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Henry Golding, and Allison Janney. So, if you loved the biting dark comedy, thrilling mystery, and compelling characters in Another Simple Favor, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

A Simple Favor (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Lionsgate

A Simple Favor...

Paul Feig "definitely" has an idea for another 'A Simple Favor' movie.The 62-year-old filmmaker has recently released the second movie in the franchise, 'Another Simple Favor' and admitted he "would love" to bring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively back for a third time as mommy vlogger Stephanie and conwoman Emily respectively.He told People magazine: “I definitely know where I want it to go.“We’ll see if everybody wants to do a third one. It was too much fun — I would love to get back together with this group and these characters and send them on an even weirder, international adventure, if possible.”The 2018 movie was set in Connecticut and the sequel is based on the island of Capri, and Paul has plans to take the cast even further afield.He said: "I think we need to take them out into the world even more.

Anna Kendrick looked stunning as she hit the Good Morning America studios in her retro-inspired look to discuss her new movie, Another Simple Favor. She wore a chic, apron-style mini dress that exuded a sense of nostalgia. The cherry on top was her choice of footwear, which balanced chic with a touch of retro charm.

Unfortunately, Lively had to skip the press tour, but at least Kendrick had a chance to shine in her retro ensemble.

Anna Kendrick drops by Good Morning America in a monochromatic pink and burgundy ensemble to talk about her new movie, Another Simple Favor (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

Disco-Ready in Malone Souliers Mora Pumps

As Anna Kendrick strutted her stuff into the studio, I couldn’t help but notice her killer footwear. She looked every bit the disco diva in the towering platform pumps by Malone Souliers, a London-based label renowned for its whimsical, unapologetically feminine aesthetic.

Director Paul Feig has expressed interest in revisiting A Simple Favor, hinting at a potential third film in the series. Following the success of the 2018 film and its recent sequel, Another Simple Favor, Feig shared his excitement about returning to the world of Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) and Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick).

In an interview, Feig stated that while he can’t make the decision alone, he has a clear idea of where the story could head next. “I definitely know where I want it to go,” he said, revealing his desire to take the characters on an even more “weird, international adventure.” This potential third film would explore new, more global locations, expanding on the series’ twisted dynamics.

The original A Simple Favor took place in a small Connecticut town, but Another Simple Favor shifted the setting to the picturesque island of Capri, where the complex relationship between Emily and Stephanie deepens.

Blake Lively has opened up about her "intense" year while appearing on the May 1 episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers while promotingAnother Simple Favor. Speaking with Meyers, Lively alluded to the ongoing legal battle involving her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. Last December, Lively filed a suit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment on set. Lively also claimed that Baldoni and his team launched a "smear campaign" against her to retaliate for speaking out against him.

When Meyers confessed to Blake Lively that he was "not totally informed" about her "intense" year, Lively joked that he'd be well-versed if he were currently hosting "Weekend Update."

"What I can say without going too into it is that this year has been full of the highest highs and the lowest lows of my life. I see so many women around afraid to speak, afraid to share their experiences.

Filmmaker Paul Feig has created and directed many successful projects, including the series Freaks and Geeks, and hit comedies like 2011's Bridesmaids, 2013's The Heat, and 2015's Spy. In 2018, he directed the adaptation of A Simple Favor, a film that ended up breaking a longtime rule for the director because he has just released a sequel, Another Simple Favor.

The director hadn't wanted to do a sequel until the dark comedy mystery film. The movie, which was adapted from Darcey Bell's novel of the same name, starred Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively and was a major critical and commercial hit. In a new interview with Cbr's Grae Drake, Feig revealed what convinced him to return to Emily and Stephanie's world.

During the Draw & Vibe segment, the two chatted about the new film, but also what convinced him to get back in the directorial chair for the same project,...

A Simple Favor premiered to critical and commercial success in 2018, but the idea for a sequel didn't come right away. Another Simple Favor has just premiered on Prime Video, but the director revealed the original story.

The original film adapted Darcey Bell's novel of the same name, and it ended with Blake Lively's Emily Nelson going to prison for faking her disappearance and killing her twin. Another Simple Favor stepped up the twists and turns further, and nothing was off limits. However, in an interview with Cbr's Grae Drake, director Paul Feig revealed that the sequel could've been strikingly different.

During the conversation, Paul Feig opened up about why he chose A Simple Favor to break his non-sequel rule, and how he felt like the characters were worth exploring further. This time, Emily was out of jail, and she went to find Anna Kendrick's Stephanie to...

Paul Feig is open to yet another Simple Favor.

The director of the twisty, campy crime dramedy and its recently debuted follow-up, Another Simple Favor, said he “would love” to explore a threequel following Anna Kendrick’s mommy vlogger Stephanie and Blake Lively’s conniving con-woman Emily Nelson.

“I definitely know where I want it to go,” he told People in a new interview. “We’ll see if everybody wants to do a third one. It was too much fun — I would love to get back together with this group and these characters and send them on an even weirder, international adventure, if possible.”

While 2018’s original takes place in small-town Connecticut, this year’s sequel takes its rivaling mothers to the breathtaking island of Capri, where Emily is getting married after having been released from prison. Though she goads Stephanie into being her maid of honor, the amateur sleuth...

The following contains spoilers for Another Simple Favor.Another Simple Favor's writer-director Paul Feig breaks down the movie's ending and how it almost concluded differently. Premiered at the South by Southwest Festival on March 7 and released on Prime Video on May 1, the sequel to A Simple Favor stars Blake Lively as Emily/Hope and Anna Kendrick as Stephanie Smothers. At Another Simple Favor's ending, it turns out Emily's triplet, Charity, who didn't die at birth and was raised by Aunt Linda, conspired to kill Dante (Michele Morrone).

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Feig revealed his original plan for the movie. He explained that Dante staged his own death in the original script and planned on framing Emily. In that scenario, the movie became more of a road trip, where Emily had to "be undercover" to solve the mystery. Check out his comment below:

In the original script, Dante...

Paul Feig is open to a 'Spy' sequel - but only if Jason Statham agrees to return.The director of the hit 2015 comedy action flick - which sees CIA analyst Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) become a field agent when she "volunteers to infiltrate an arms deal and stop a global catastrophe" - said it if any movie was going to "have a sequel, it'll probably be 'Spy'".Paul - who previously said he "don't do sequels" because they are "hard" to do - told HeyUGuys: "I mean, if there was ever going to be another movie that'll have a sequel, it'll probably be 'Spy'."So, you know, never say never."His 'Another Simple Favour' co-star Henry Golding reminded Paul that the "conscientious is that 'Spy' has to be remade', to which 'The Housemaid' actor replied: "I think it...

In the whirlwind of the lawsuits and pubic accusations came Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick led Another Simple Favor, a sequel to the 2018 film, A Simple Favor, which explored the twisted relationship between Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson.

The sequel delivered a similar pace with new twists, but also some uncomfortable, arguably unnecessary plot points, leaving audiences divided over its value. However, one point of agreement may be Stephanie’s descent into an amateur detective, perhaps the most grating since Mabel in Only Murders in the Building.

Stephanie Smithers returns as an amateur detective in Another Simple Favor

Introduced as an overachieving mommy vlogger in A Simple Favor, Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie Smothers returns in the sequel as a full-blown true crime influencer with millions of followers and a book about exposing Emily Nelson’s schemes.

Related: ‘Another Simple Favor’s Stephanie Is One Crime Scene Away From Turning Into...

Welcome to the Gold Ticket, your VIP guide to the best of award-worthy pop culture for the weekend ahead, curated by the Gold Derby team of experts. (May 2 - May 4)

The main stream

Cue up the Carole King, because you've got a friend in The Four Seasons.

Adapted from the 1981 film of the same name, Netflix's newest comedy series hails from 30 Rock alumni Tina Fey, Tracy Wigfield, and Lang Fisher. It follows six longtime friends — three couples portrayed by Fey and Will Forte, Steve Carell and Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Colman Domingo and Marco Calvani — across four separate trips, one each season, over the course of a single year. Now, this isn't a fantasy series, so we're not sure how they're affording all these trips in this economy, but let's chalk it up to the magic of television. A bit less magical, however, is the relationship between Carell's Nick and Kenney-Silver's Anne,...

The new movie Another Simple Favor is now streaming on Prime Video and it ends with the perfect segue to a third film, so will it actually be made?

Director Paul Feig has opened up about the potentially of a “three-quel” starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick.

This is the first time that Paul has directed a sequel despite fans begging for sequels to his beloved films like Bridesmaids and Spy.

Keep reading to find out more…

So, will a third movie happen?

“It’s all sitting right there to be picked off the tree,” Paul told Entertainment Weekly. “Look, as much as I don’t like to do sequels and have avoided them, I have no rule against three-quels. There’s much more fun to be had with these characters and to see what they can get into and how they can get out of it.”

The second movie...

Major spoilers ahead for “Another Simple Favor”

Heading into “Another Simple Favor,” there was a pretty major question to consider: why would Stephanie Smothers ever agree to do another favor for Emily Nelson? And now that the film is out, the new question is: could it be Emily’s turn?

Now streaming on Prime Video, the sequel answers that first question pretty quickly. Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) agrees to be part of Emily Nelson’s (Blake Lively) post-prison wedding mostly because of a solid blackmail threat. When Emily crashes Stephanie’s book signing, she makes it clear that Stephanie’s refusal to come would result in not only exposing her secrets, but also suing her for using Emily’s name and likeness without explicit consent.

Lawsuits like that tend to be a real stoplight for books, particularly one that’s already struggling. And so, Stephanie jets off to Capri — literally...

“Another Simple Favor” is now streaming on Prime Video, and this time, the murder and mysteries take place in Italy. But where exactly in Italy are they?

The sequel reunites Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) five years after the events of the first film — which indeed came out seven years ago — with Emily fresh out of prison. She stayed busy while locked up though, securing herself a new fiancé. So, upon earning her freedom (thanks to said fiancé’s high-powered lawyers), Emily seeks out Stephanie and asks for another favor: stand up in the wedding as maid of honor.

Thanks to a few well-leveled threats from Emily, Stephanie agrees, and they jet off to Capri for the wedding. Why Capri? Well, Emily’s fiancé Dante Versano (Michele Morrone) is a wealthy Italian mobster. But if you’re wondering why director Paul Feig chose Capri, the answer...

May is absolutely brimming with great new movies streaming. This month brings sequels, star-studded adventure films, smart slashers and even Oscar-winning favorites to streamers like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Peacock and Max, and we’ve gone ahead and put together a curated list of the best of the best. Below you’ll find a roundup of the best new streaming movies this month, from bona fide new releases like “Another Simple Favor” and the John Krasinski-fronted “Fountain of Youth” to new-to-streaming titles like “The Brutalist,” “Dog Man” and the critically acclaimed “Black Bag.”

So pop some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the show.

“Another Simple Favor” Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in “Another Simple Favor” (Credit: Lorenzo Sisti)

Prime Video – May 1

Yes, there is a new sequel to the 2018 film “A Simple Favor” (see below) and yes, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively are back for another round of murderous fun.

Wyatt Russell might be suiting up again as the edgy U.S. Agent in Thunderbolts*, Marvel’s upcoming anti-hero ensemble flick, but this helmet-wearing, shield-tossing powerhouse has been quietly building a resume packed with quirky, intense, and underrated gems for over a decade. Sure, he’s got that familiar smirk and Kurt Russell’s action-star genes, but Wyatt’s real magic lies in how effortlessly he slides from indie oddball to military hero to full-blown supernatural investigator.

While the MCU might be what catapults him further into the spotlight, it’s time we gave some serious love to the lesser-known roles that shaped him into the scene-stealer he is today. From eerie horrors to twisted comedies and low-key thrillers, these projects show Wyatt flexing his acting muscles well before he ever earned a red-striped star on his chest. Let’s dig into 12 of his must-watch, under-the-radar performances.

12. We Are What We Are...

Light spoilers ahead for “Another Simple Favor”

Paul Feig has no shortage of beloved films in his catalogue, but one thing those films have never had is a sequel. Now, with “Another Simple Favor,” the director has finally made his first — though he definitely “kept trying to chicken out on it.”

Now streaming on Prime Video, “Another Simple Favor” comes seven years after its predecessor “A Simple Favor” first hit theaters, and reunites stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively as Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson respectively, for another dark, comedic murder mystery. This time, the story goes international, bringing the women to Capri.

Given that the original film grossed nearly $100 million worldwide at the box office on a $20 million budget, you’d be forgiven for thinking that a sequel was inevitable, and being surprised it didn’t come sooner. But, according to Feig, crafting a follow-up was “challenging and terrifying,...

Twenty twenty-five is shaping up to be the year of the unexpected sequel. Ben Affleck has already dusted off his reading glasses for The Accountant 2, and the Four Horseman are about to take the stage again in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. But first, behold Another Simple Favor, a perfectly pleasant, if unnecessary, follow-up to 2018’s A Simple Favor. There has never been a better time to be a semi-forgotten film from the 2010s.

Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), after solving the disappearance and re-appearance of her former Bff, Emily Neslon (Blake Lively), in the first film, went from small-time Momfluencer to true-crime star. In the sequel, Stephanie learns that Emily is about to head off to Capri to marry her dashing new mafioso fiancé, Dante (Michele Morrone), which is surprising since Emily ended the prior film in prison for a variety of charges ranging from insurance fraud to fratricide.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal drama has been no secret since news broke of the suit that Lively filed against her It Ends with Usco-star and director in late December 2024. While the Gossip Girl star has appeared publicly, she has not sat down for a television interview since the drama began. Per Entertainment Weekly, Lively recently appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers and addressed her “intense year.”

“This year has been full of the highest highs and the lowest lows of my life,” Lively said. She was appearing on the late-night talk show to promote her newest film, Another Simple Favor. While Lively did not directly address the legal drama with Baldoni she did talk about how important it is for women to speak out about their experiences.

Lively: “I Feel Fortunate”

“I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially now, afraid to share their experiences.

Summer is rapidly approaching, and that means it’s going to get hot. The good news is, you have plenty of reasons to stay inside and soak up some A/C in the next few months, because there are about to be a lot of movies to choose from.

Both in theaters and across streaming platforms, this summer will offer a film for just about any fan’s taste, from family-friendly fare, to intense action, to rom-coms and more. The thing is, it can be pretty hard to keep track of everything that’s coming out.

So, we decided to go ahead and do that for you — at least for the titles coming out from May to August. Here are 27 of our most anticipated films this summer, in order of their release dates.

Anna Kendrick in “Another Simple Favor” (Credit: Prime Video) Another Simple Favor (Prime Video) – May 1

Not even...

The most recent press tour Blake Lively participated in ended in an avalanche of legal battles when she sued her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni last year. Now, the actress is making the rounds to promote her latest film, Another Simple Favor. She’s been able to split press time with co-star Anna Kendrick, but has also made solo stops. Her recent interview on Late Night With Seth Meyers marked her first television appearance since the lawsuit was filed.

“What I can say without going too...

[Editor’s note: The following interview contains some spoilers for “Another Simple Favor.”]

No one has ever seen Paul Feig — not even on an airplane — in anything less than formalwear, whether a three-piece suit or a dandyish necktie or pinstripes, sometimes cutting a classy silhouette with a martini in hand. The filmmaker and head of Feigco Entertainment also has his own Artingstall’s London dry gin brand, so of course it made sense to meet up with the writer/director and his “Another Simple Favor” star Elizabeth Perkins for drinks at Columbus Circle’s Mandarin Oriental hotel in New York.

Feig’s sequel “Another Simple Favor,” now streaming on Prime Video, is the follow-up to his 2018 box-office hit about neighboring mothers on edge (Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick) whose suburban ennui drives them to murder and mayhem. The latest film flings us to Italy’s island of Capri, with Emily (Lively) out from behind bars for the alleged murder of...

Paul Feig’s A Simple Favour was a sleeper hit, blending competitive motherhood, social media addiction and wild conspiratorial nonsense to create an effective and surprising murder mystery. With jokes. This sequel leans into the complicated plotting, the comedy and the murder, but loses the clever character work that made the first so compelling. So, while the result is still wildly entertaining and as breezy as the island of Capri where it is set, it’s more conventional than its predecessor and considerably more predictable.

Anna Kendrick has a little less to do this time as mommy-blogger/detective Stephanie, who is trying to launch a book about her previous experiences with her frenemy, Blake Lively’s con-artist/murderess Emily. When this nemesis reappears, sprung from prison by a rich new fiancé (Michele Morrone’s brooding Dante) and headed to her wedding on Capri, she demands Stephanie’s presence as maid of honour.

Sylvester Stallone’s Hunter Movie ( Photo Credit – Flickr )

Many years ago, veteran Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone acquired the film rights to a 1999 science fiction novel titled Hunter, written by James Byron Huggins. The Oscar-nominated actor-filmmaker purportedly intended to use the novel’s plot for ‘Rambo: Last Blood’. But later, the Rambo movie’s plot was changed to Rambo rescuing a girl from the clutches of a Mexican human trafficking gang, and it was released in 2019.

Even now, if Stallone somehow still makes the film, it could well be the grand theatrical comeback the Rocky actor must be hoping for. After delivering a critically acclaimed performance as Rocky Balboa in Creed II, the charismatic actor’s big-screen acting projects in the last few years have received a lacklustre response. He has starred in films like Backtrace, Escape Plan: The Extractors, Expend4bles, Armor, and Alarum, and all of them got not-so-encouraging feedback.

“Another Simple Favor” (2025) is a particularly twisted affair, and even the most devoted fans of the Emily-Stephanie saga would agree that it unfolds like a telenovela script. That’s a part of its appeal. It is campy and finds a wicked sense of fun in the same campiness. It shows Emily and Stephanie’s journey after what happened in “A Simple Favor.” Their friendship devolved from a casual infatuation to a full-blown meltdown that put Emily under a 20-year sentence. At the same time, Stephanie and her vlog became far more popular because of Emily’s disappearance. Stephanie got a chance to live as Emily while realizing Emily’s entire life was a ruse.

In the first movie, Emily is revealed to be Hope, who left her home with her twin sister Faith. Together, they burned down their house to kill their abusive father. Years later, Emily / Hope gets arrested...

Exploring The Ending Of Anna Kendrick & Blake Lively’s Another Simple Favor (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Spoiler Alert: The following article discusses the ending of Another Simple Favor in detail.

Another Simple Favor is back with more martinis, more murder, and way more drama than your average PTA meeting. Blake Lively’s effortlessly chaotic Emily and Anna Kendrick’s delightfully awkward Stephanie reunite in sun-soaked Capri, where a not-so-simple wedding spirals into a tangled web of lies, bodies, and sisterly secrets. When you think the plot couldn’t twist any harder, the sequel cranks up the chaos with a cocktail of betrayal, hidden agendas, and couture crime. While the fashion is still fierce and the snark still sizzling, the ending of Another Simple Favor manages to out-shock the original’s finale, and yes, it leaves plenty of stylish breadcrumbs for more sequels. Wondering how it all unravels this time around? Let...

On Friday May 2 2025, NBC broadcasts The Kelly Clarkson Show!

Season 6 Episode 144 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” promises an exciting mix of music, celebrity guests, and home improvement. Set to air on NBC, this episode features a special segment of “Kellyoke” where Kelly Clarkson will perform “Where Have You Been.” Fans can look forward to her powerful vocals as she brings her unique style to this popular song.

In addition to the musical performance, actress Anna Kendrick will join Kelly for a chat. Known for her roles in films like “Pitch Perfect,” Anna is sure to bring her charm and humor to the show. Viewers can expect an engaging conversation as Kelly and Anna discuss her latest projects and share some laughs.

The episode will also feature Gabriel Luna, who is known for his work in television and film. His appearance is likely to add an exciting dynamic to the show,...