The upcoming SXSW Film and TV Festival in Austin, Texas, is set to kick off with the premiere of “Another Simple Favor,” which serves as a sequel to the 2018 hit noir comedy. This new installment features Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reprising their roles and is expected to deliver more thrilling twists in a narrative revolving around murder and betrayal. The film follows the characters Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Lively) as they embark on a wedding trip to Capri, Italy.
On Tuesday, festival organizers announced that “Another Simple Favor” will officially open the event on March 7. Claudette Godfrey, the vice president of the festival, expressed her excitement, stating, “When we saw this film last fall, we instantly knew it had to open SXSW — it gave us that electric feeling we live for as programmers.” This reinforces the festival’s history of including Paul Feig’s work, having showcased a work-in-progress of “Bridesmaids” back in 2011 and unveiling “Spy” in 2015.
This premiere will mark Blake Lively’s return to the big screen after her role in last year’s “It Ends With Us,” amid a public legal dispute involving her and the film’s director and co-star, Justin Baldoni. In late December, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and others, citing issues of sexual harassment and damage to her reputation, while seeking unspecified damages in the case. In response, Baldoni lodged his own lawsuit the following month, accusing Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion, with damages sought in excess of $400 million. A trial date for these legal matters has been scheduled for March 2026.
In addition to “Another Simple Favor,” SXSW has also announced another opening night premiere of Seth Rogen’s new comedy series titled “The Studio.” This year’s festival, which marks its 32nd iteration, will take place from March 7 through March 14, promising a diverse lineup of films and events for attendees.
