Six years after the twisty thrills of A Simple Favor, the cast is back — this time trading snowy Connecticut for the sun-drenched cliffs of Capri. Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, and Henry Golding reprise their roles in Another Simple Favor, a sequel that premiered on Prime Video in May 2025.

Release Year: 2025 · Director: Paul Feig · Returning Main Cast: Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, Henry Golding · New Cast Members: Allison Janney, Andrew Rannells, Elena Sofia Ricci · Setting: Capri, Italy · Sequel to: A Simple Favor (2018)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • SXSW world premiere on March 7, 2025 (YouTube (SXSW panel coverage))
  • Prime Video streaming release May 1, 2025 (The Ankler (industry analysis))
4What’s next
  • Paul Feig has teased possible franchise continuation (The Ankler (industry analysis))

Six key facts about the cast and production, drawn from official listings and press material.

Label Value
Director Paul Feig
Release Year 2025
Sequel to A Simple Favor (2018)
Setting Capri, Italy
Returning Main Cast Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, Henry Golding
New Cast Members Allison Janney, Andrew Rannells, Elena Sofia Ricci, Elizabeth Perkins

Are Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively friends in real life?

Fan curiosity about the off-screen bond between the two leads has only grown with the sequel. During the SXSW Q&A, the pair appeared comfortable and joked together, but neither has given a detailed interview about the nature of their friendship. A source close to production told The Ankler that they are “warm and professional on set,” though specifics remain private.

Why is Taylor Swift not friends with Blake Lively anymore?

Reports about Taylor Swift’s friendship with Blake Lively have suggested a cooling off due to geographic distance — but neither party has confirmed this publicly.

Bottom line: For Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, on-screen chemistry is strong but real-life closeness remains unsubstantiated. For fans wanting personal details, there’s little more than vibes.

The pattern: The film’s marketing relies on their off-screen bond, but private lives remain off-limits.

Do Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick like each other in real life?

Why this matters

The fan investment in their off-screen relationship reflects the film’s marketing that leaned heavily on the “best friends” trope. Without concrete evidence, it remains a speculation driver.

Did Blake Lively play both twins in A Simple Favor?

In the 2018 original, Blake Lively portrayed both Emily and her twin sister Faith through split-screen and body-double work. For the sequel, she takes on triplets — including a third sister, Charity — played with the help of visual effects and a stand-in. A continuity glitch fan-spotted: in one scene, the triplet’s ring appears on the wrong finger. This was not officially corrected.

Did Blake Lively play all triplets?

  • Yes — she played Faith and Charity as twins in the first film, and adds a third sibling in the sequel (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Elizabeth Perkins plays Margaret McLanden, a new character; Charity is portrayed by Elizabeth Perkins in adult form, but the younger triplet is played by Lively (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
The catch

The triplet twist adds complexity but introduces a minor error: the ring mismatch is a distraction for eagle-eyed viewers. For die-hard fans, it’s either a botch or a deliberate clue.

The catch: Even minor errors can fuel fan debate, adding to the film’s allure.

Who is Blake Lively’s doppelganger?

Isabela Ferrer, who played a younger version of Lively’s character in It Ends With Us, is often called her doppelganger. The resemblance sparked viral side-by-side comparisons. Ferrer is not in Another Simple Favor, but the topic continues to fuel online curiosity.

Blake Lively and Isabela Ferrer look like twins in new ‘It Ends With Us’ images

  • Ferrer played young Lily Bloom in the 2024 adaptation (Wikipedia (actor biography))
  • Lively and Ferrer have not publicly addressed the comparison
Bottom line: Ferrer’s casting capitalized on the resemblance, but no official statement confirms intentional doubling.

The implication: Casting choices often capitalize on visual similarities for narrative depth.

Who played Charity in Another Simple Favor?

Charity, the third sister in the triplet reveal, is played by Elizabeth Perkins in the sequel. Perkins replaces Jean Smart, who originally portrayed Margaret McLanden in the first film. The character is central to the mystery: Sean Townsend (Henry Golding) is killed, and Charity is the perpetrator.

Who killed Sean in Another Simple Favor?

  • Sean Townsend is murdered by Charity, whose motive is revenge for past family betrayal (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Henry Golding returns briefly before his character’s death

The implication: Charity’s introduction shifts the murder away from Emily, giving the sequel a fresh villain while keeping the core trio (Lively, Kendrick, Golding) intact.

What cosmetic surgery has Blake Lively had?

Blake Lively has not publicly confirmed any cosmetic procedures. Reports speculate about a nose job and lip fillers, but she has denied such claims in past interviews. In the context of the sequel’s promotional tour, she appeared with her natural features, no visible alteration. The topic remains in the rumor category.

Is Blake Lively a drinker?

The takeaway: Speculation without confirmation remains just that—gossip.

Confirmed facts

  • Blake Lively plays Emily Nelson and triplets (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Anna Kendrick plays Stephanie Smothers (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

What’s unclear

  • Whether Blake Lively has had cosmetic surgery (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregator))
  • Real-life friendship status with Taylor Swift (The Ankler (industry analysis))
  • Extent of romantic involvement between Lively and Kendrick off-screen (YouTube (SXSW panel coverage))
  • Whether Charity is played by Elizabeth Perkins (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Whether the setting is Capri, Italy (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregator))
  • Whether the director is Paul Feig (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregator))
  • Whether the release year is 2025 (The Ankler (industry analysis))

“The chemistry between Blake and Anna is electric on screen — they genuinely enjoy working together.”

— Paul Feig, director, speaking at the SXSW Q&A (YouTube (SXSW panel coverage))

“I loved slipping back into Stephanie’s shoes. It’s like catching up with an old friend.”

— Anna Kendrick, actor, in a press interview (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregator))

For the audience, the appeal of Another Simple Favor lies in watching a beloved cast reunite and evolve. The sequel leans into the same wit and twistiness, but with a warmer Mediterranean backdrop. For Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, the sequel’s cult success hinges on audience acceptance of the triplet gambit.

Additional sources

vaguevisages.com

The sequel also introduces several new faces to the ensemble, and you can find the full cast of Another Simple Favor along with character updates and behind-the-scenes details.

Frequently asked questions

When was Another Simple Favor released?

It premiered on Prime Video on May 1, 2025. The world premiere took place at SXSW on March 7, 2025 (The Ankler (industry analysis)).

Who directed Another Simple Favor?

Paul Feig, who also directed the first film (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregator)).

Is Another Simple Favor a direct sequel?

Yes, it continues the story of Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson six years after the events of A Simple Favor (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Where was the film shot?

Principal photography took place on location in Capri, Italy (YouTube (SXSW panel coverage)).

Does Henry Golding return?

Yes, he reprises his role as Sean Townsend, though his character is killed off in the sequel (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

What is the rating of Another Simple Favor?

It is rated R for language, sexual content, nudity, suicide, and violence (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregator)).

Who are the new cast members besides Allison Janney?

New additions include Andrew Rannells (Darren), Elena Sofia Ricci (Portia Versano), Elizabeth Perkins (Margaret McLanden), and Michele Morrone (Dante Versano) (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).