Sequel To Blake Lively’s Best Movie Is Finally Happening
Blake Lively's best film, A Simple Favor, is getting a sequel that starts filming this fall in Italy.
Blake Lively may have originally made her mark as Serena on Gossip Girl, but she has since transitioned to the silver screen through such hits as The Town, Savages, and Green Lantern. With one exception, Lively has not starred in a sequel to any of her films, something that is thankfully about to change. According to People, Blake Lively’s best film, A Simple Favor is starting production on a sequel in September with most of the cast back for the second outing.
Based off of a book of the same name by Darcey Bell, the 2018 dark crime comedy was a smash hit. Starring Blake Lively as Emily Nelson and Anna Kendrick as Stephanie Smothers, A Simple Favor is a twisty thriller that starts out following most of the tropes established by Gone Girl, Girl on the Train, and The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window. Yet there’s a turn in the film that makes it even more of a soap opera bu the amazing chemistry between the two leads keeps it from collapsing under the weight of its contrivance.
Blake Lively’s Emily seemingly has it all as a successful house wife married to a handsome writer (Henry Golding), while Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie is a single-mom vlogger struggling to keep it all together until she’s asked to perform a simple favor. When Emily winds up missing, Stephanie makes it her mission to find her friend, and then ultimately to reach the truth of why she vanished in the first place. Given where the two characters end up, a sequel seemed unlikely but possible, with current rumors pointing to production starting in Italy this fall.
Returning alongside Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick is Paul Feig as the director, and while none of the other supporting cast from A Simple Favor have been announced as returning, reporting is that “most” will be present for the sequel. The rest of the cast consisted of Linda Cardellini, Andrew Rannels, Dustin Milligan, Rupert Friend, and Eric Johnson.
Beyond the excellent reception, which critics hailed as an amazing example of “mommy-noir,” the film was a hit at the box office. With a domestic haul of $55 million, Blake Lively’s A Simple Favor is her second best film to date behind The Shallows. While yes, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Savages, The Town, and Green Lantern made more money, all of those had the star as part of an ensemble or in a supporting role.
Constantly moving into new genres, Blake Lively followed up A Simple Favor by starring in The Rhythm Section, an action thriller that is one of the largest bombs of the past few years. Costing Paramount Studios a reported $30-$40 million in revenue, it’s no surprise that Lively is now going back to her greatest critical and financial success.
Expect more word on Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, and whomever may be joining them on the set of A Simple Favor 2, along with hints as to why they’re filming in Europe, as we get closer to the September start date.
