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Director Paul Feig steps into the world of sequel-making withAnother Simple Favor, which is coming soon to Prime Video.Starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, the movie picks up after the events of the 2018 comedy thrillerA Simple Favorand Kendrick’s Stephanie Smothers reuniting with Lively’s Emily Nelson for Emily’s destination wedding. Naturally, murder is in the cards as the characters are once more thrust into a situation in desperate need of unraveling.
As a director and producer, Feige generally avoids making sequels, which is likely a big part of why his resume is stacked with widely appreciated one-off comedies. Feig was behind the camera for instant classics includingHeat, Spy,andBridesmaids,and continues to chase unique concepts for projects like 2024’sJackpot!Still,ScreenRant’sAnother Simple Favorreviewhas praised Feig’s sequel and the continued on-screen chemistry of Kendrick and Lively.
ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley spoke with Paul Feig about his work on Another Simple Favor at ScreenRant’s SXSW suite. The director spoke about his hesitation in returning for a sequel and reflected on the relationship between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s characters. Plus, Feig offered a tease of what audiences can expect from his upcoming film with Sydney Sweeney,Housemaid.
Feig Addresses The Romantic Undertones In Emily & Stephanie’s Relationship
“There’s Always Been That Question”
The on-screen relationship between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick may leave some viewers wondering if something deeper is going on between the characters.“There’s always been that question, even in the first one, of ‘How much do they really like each other? Is there some kind of attraction between them?’”said Feig.“It’s very vague, and I’d like to leave it that way.”
When they get together in their scenes, it’s just amazing.
That said, Feig stated that Lively and Kendrick“have a natural chemistry both as characters and actors that comes across, and you may’t tamp that down.”He shared his excitement about the pair, saying,“When they get together in their scenes, it’s just amazing. They’re really good friends away from the set, so it is really nice to have them back together. I just love working with the two of them. They were the main reason I wanted to do a sequel because I just want to [keep] working with them.”
“Sequels Are Kind Of Scary”
A Simple Favorwas adapted from Darcey Bell’s book of the same name by screenwriter Jessica Sharzer. ForAnother Simple Favor,Feig and Sharzer had to work beyond the bounds of Bell’s original concept.“It was really fun to develop,”Feig said, before adding,“I mean, it was tough. I don’t normally do sequels, and sequels are kind of scary. Especially if people really like the first one, which is the only reason you get to make a sequel, you don’t want to let them down.”
“You also don’t want to copy the first one,”Feig continued,“so, you have to figure out, ‘Where are we going to put these characters and let people discover new things about them?’ The nice thing about a movie the first time [that] you’re discovering characters. For the sequel, you already know who they are.”
Another Simple Favor Review: I Had A Ridiculously Fun Time Watching Blake Lively & Anna Kendrick Banter In Stakeless Paul Feig Sequel
With Another Simple Favor, Feig has managed to make a fun, delightfully ridiculous film where Kendrick & Lively shine.
In makingAnother Simple Favor,Feig decided to lean more heavily into the movie’s comedic aspects.“I didn’t want to shy away from it,”the director said,“The funny thing about the first one is that nobody knew it had comedy in it, so it was a slow burn of the audience going, ‘Oh, I think this is actually supposed to be funny at times.’”But that didn’t mean it was all just for laughs:“At the same time, the stakes are real, the danger’s real, [and] the emotions are real.”
“Since we know these characters already now,”Feig said,“we want to take them to a more extreme, different place, and that allows you to be a little more out there with the comedy.”
Feig Already Has An Idea For A Simple Favor 3
“I Know Where I’d Like It To Go”
Feig shared extra good news for fans ofA Simple Favorwho are eagerly anticipatingAnother SImple Favor:“Hopefully, [we’re] going to make a third one.”As to what the story would be,“I’ve got a nice thing in mind,”said the director, continuing,“It could be three movies in this story. So, yeah. I know where I’d like it to go.”
The director also reflected on the trickiness inherent in sequel- or threequel-making:“The timing of a sequel is a weird thing … either you wait too long and people are like, ‘Why are you doing that?’ or you do it too soon, and it seems like you just rushed it together.”So, Feig may not have a timeline set, but hopefully he knows more than he let on with a final,“We’ll see.”
Spy & Jackpot! Would Also “Be Best Served” With Sequels
Feig Is Currently Writing The Story For Spy 2
Feig weighed in on some other potential sequels to projects he’s done. When told that a sequel to his 2024 filmJackpot!Would be much appreciated, Feig responded with“You made my day with that. That was so much fun. I love Jackpot! The critics didn’t like it, but I loved it … I already know what I want the story for Jackpot! 2 to be.” Jackpot!star John Cena would be open to making a sequel, too. When asked, Feig said,“Oh, yeah, totally. We had so much fun. John and Nora and I just had the best time.”
AJackpot!sequel may be mostly hypothetical at this point, but a follow-up to 2015’s action comedy filmSpyis closer to reality.“I’ve been working on the story,”Feig said.“I’m not going to go try to make all my movies into sequels,”the director clarified,“I like doing original things and new ideas, but I would say that those two would probably be the ones best served by another sequel.”
The Housemaid Is “Definitely A Heavier Story” Than Another Simple Favor
Feig Hypes Up His Upcoming Sydney Sweeney Thriller
One of Paul Feig’s next upcoming movies isTheHousemaid,a psychological thriller starring Sydney Sweeney and Brandon Sklenar.“We wrapped production on it about two weeks ago,”Feig said, offering an update,“and I’m really excited about it. I go into the editing room on Monday and we come out at Christmas.”He continued:“So far, from what we shot, it came out great. We’re going to see how it cuts together. But between Sydney and Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, [it’s] an amazing group of people to work with.”
“I look at the Simple Favor movies as being thrillers too,”Feig said,“They’ve got kind of a black comedy bed to them.”But, he clarified,“The Housemaid is definitely a heavier story.”
Another Simple Favorpremiered March 7 at South by Southwest 2025. It will be released May 1 on Prime Video.
