Blake Lively is stepping back into the spotlight with the release of the first teaser for Another Simple Favor, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 hit film. 

However, the timing of the trailer’s debut is less than ideal, as the actress remains embroiled in a legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni.

Despite the controversy, the film is moving forward as planned, with its premiere scheduled for March 7 at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival. 

It will then begin streaming exclusively on Prime Video starting May 1.

A Film Overshadowed by Legal Drama

The ongoing tension between Lively and Baldoni has cast a shadow over the movie’s release. 

The pair have been at the center of a highly publicized legal dispute, with Lively accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct. In response, Baldoni has denied the allegations and filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane.

The controversy recently intensified after The Hollywood Reporter featured Lively and Baldoni on its cover, portraying Lively as launching a slingshot at her co-star. The actress publicly condemned the image, calling it “outrageously insulting” and accusing the publication of perpetuating sexist stereotypes about women who speak out against workplace misconduct.

A spokesperson for Lively further criticized the magazine, stating, “The framing in this picture is outrageously insulting as it plays into every sexist trope about women who dare file a workplace complaint, turning them into the aggressor, and suggesting they deserve the retaliation that comes their way.”

Another Simple Favor Moves Forward

Despite the ongoing drama, Amazon MGM Studios released the teaser for Another Simple Favor on Wednesday. Interestingly, the studio appears to have disabled the YouTube comment section, likely in response to a wave of online backlash.

The movie, directed by Paul Feig, reunites Lively with co-star Anna Kendrick, who reprises her role as Stephanie. The sequel follows Stephanie and Emily (Lively) as they travel to Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman, played by 365 Days star Michele Morrone. However, in classic A Simple Favor fashion, the glamorous event takes a dark turn, with murder and betrayal adding unexpected twists to the story.

The teaser hints at the film’s suspenseful plot, with Kendrick’s character appearing stunned by Emily’s unexpected return from prison. In one particularly intense moment, Lively’s character confronts Kendrick’s, asking, “Do you think I invited you to get revenge? For stealing my life and taking my kid away from me? You think I want to make you pay?”

Director Paul Feig, who has publicly supported Lively throughout her legal battle, recently praised her performance, writing on social media, “Blake and Anna deliver incredible performances. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

Public Scrutiny and Online Backlash

The promotional rollout for Another Simple Favor has already faced challenges. When the film’s official poster was released, it was met with a flood of social media comments mocking the ongoing drama between Lively and Baldoni. Some even jokingly speculated that Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, had secretly directed the movie.

Amazon MGM Studios’ decision to turn off the comment section on YouTube further suggests that the studio is trying to control the narrative and prevent further negative publicity from derailing the film’s release.

Legal Battle Continues

As the film gears up for its SXSW premiere, Lively and Baldoni’s legal battle remains unresolved. The Hollywood Reporter recently published an in-depth piece exploring the dispute, which included claims from Lively’s complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. One particularly bizarre allegation detailed how Baldoni allegedly told Lively he could communicate with her late father.

The article also examined how Baldoni’s Baha’i faith may have played a role in the workplace conflict, suggesting that elements of his religious beliefs, such as pre-filming prayers and physical gestures, may have clashed with modern workplace expectations.

Lively’s team swiftly rejected this narrative, with her spokesperson calling the characterization “extremely offensive” and dismissing the notion that the allegations could be explained away as a cultural misunderstanding.

What’s Next for Another Simple Favor?

While the legal drama continues to unfold, Another Simple Favor remains on track for its March 7 premiere. With a star-studded cast that includes returning actors Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua Satine, Ian Ho, and Kelly McCormack, the film is expected to deliver the same stylish mystery and dark humor that made the original a success.

However, whether the film can escape the shadow of Lively’s legal feud with Baldoni remains to be seen. As the controversy continues to generate headlines, it’s unclear if audiences will be able to separate the actress’s off-screen drama from her on-screen performance.

For now, fans can look forward to seeing Lively and Kendrick back in action when Another Simple Favor hits Prime Video on May 1. But with tensions still running high, this sequel is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about—and possibly most scrutinized—films of the year.

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