Blake Lively’s highly anticipated sequel to A Simple Favor officially has a premiere date, announced in the midst of her ongoing legal dispute with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.
On Tuesday, February 4, it was revealed via social media that the follow-up film, Another Simple Favor, will debut on March 7, 2025, at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. The sequel sees Lively, 37, and Anna Kendrick, 39, reprising their roles as Emily and Stephanie, respectively.
Alongside Lively and Kendrick, several original cast members are returning, including Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua Satine, and Ian Ho. New additions to the ensemble include Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, and Allison Janney.
Following its festival premiere, Another Simple Favor will be available to stream on Prime Video beginning May 1.
Lively’s Legal Battle With Baldoni Continues
The upcoming thriller marks Lively’s first film since the release of It Ends With Us in August 2024. The project, which starred and was directed by Baldoni, 41, has become the center of a highly publicized legal battle between the two actors.
Speculation about tension between Lively and Baldoni began circulating in August 2024 when they noticeably promoted It Ends With Us separately. At the time, neither addressed the rumors.
However, in December 2024, Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. Documents obtained by The New York Times revealed that the actress accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set.
Baldoni has strongly denied the allegations and, in response, filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times and nine other parties for their coverage of Lively’s accusations. A spokesperson told that they intend to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
A Simple Favor 2A Legal Battle Expands
In addition to her initial complaint, Lively filed a separate lawsuit against Baldoni in a New York federal court. The suit echoes her previous claims, alleging sexual harassment, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and lost wages. Baldoni has continued to deny all accusations.
In January 2025, Baldoni escalated the conflict by filing another lawsuit—this time for $400 million—against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane. In his filing, Baldoni accused the trio of extortion, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy, among other claims. Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane have all denied Baldoni’s allegations.
Court Date and Legal Statements
A trial date has been set for March 2026, but during a hearing on Monday, February 3, a federal judge warned that the date could be moved up if the case continues to be “litigated in the press.” Following the hearing, both parties released statements to Us Weekly regarding the proceedings.
Lively’s legal team expressed confidence in the case’s direction. “We are pleased with the result of today’s hearing and eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case,” her representatives stated.
“The Court granted our request that all attorneys involved follow the rule of law and refrain from making statements that could prejudice a jury. This case deals with serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. We will hold the defendants accountable, and we are confident that once all the evidence is submitted, Ms. Lively will prevail.”
Baldoni’s attorneys shared a statement reflecting his emotional response to the ongoing litigation. “Justin is devastated but remains hopeful that we can move the case along as quickly as possible,” they said.
“We just couldn’t be more pleased with how the case was handled today. We’re going to move as quickly as we possibly can to prove our innocence, in a world where people often judge before giving you a chance. And we’re going to change that.”